Tanko Yakasai, a prominent Second Republic politician, has issued a firm warning to proponents of a separate Yoruba State, stating unequivocally that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu lacks the authority to relinquish any part of Nigeria or sanction its division.
In an interview with Daily Sun in Kano, Yakasai, emphasizing his Yoruba heritage, clarified that neither the current president nor any other Nigerian leader possesses the constitutional power to permit any entity or group within Nigeria to secede and form an independent nation.
Yakasai stressed that any group considering secession must advocate for rewriting the constitution to accommodate such aspirations. He advised those interested in secession not to pressure President Tinubu but to focus on constitutional reform.
Yakasai asserted, “As a matter of fact, there is no provision in the Nigeria Constitution that permits any part of the country to move out of the Federation as it is presently constituted.”
The veteran politician acknowledged the democratic right of individuals and groups to hold varying opinions on governance and politics. However, he emphasized that such views must align with the nation's constitutional framework.
When questioned about the challenges of constitutional reform, including the fact that the current constitution was created during military rule, Yakasai suggested that silence on this matter implies consent. He pointed out that the absence of protests against the exclusion of secession from the 1999 constitution signifies acceptance of its provisions.