The Commonwealth of the Yoruba Kingdom.

The rates of resources taken from Yorubaland to develop non-Yoruba regions in Nigeria remain alarmingly high. Yet, the Yoruba people persist, facing barriers, but always maintaining their determination to develop at their own pace. This is why the first and most compelling reason for advocating for the Commonwealth of the Yoruba Kingdom or the Oduduwa Republic is that the people of Yorubaland not only want but truly deserve democracy. Their will is powerful, clear, and accurate whenever an opinion is voiced. It has been expressed with remarkable calm and consistency over decades and has grown stronger with time. This would be reason enough for the change in a responsive and effective democracy.

However, Nigeria's present unitary constitution denies Yorubaland a responsive and effective democracy. That is the second reason for demanding the Oduduwa Republic. As we enter this new decade, Yoruba people face a crucial decision. We possess a distinguished and distinctive structural heritage, evident in our legal, educational, social, cultural, and religious traditions. These are aspects of our society and the essence of who we are as Yoruba people. Yet, we find ourselves lacking democratic control over them. Our conduct is being dictated by a system of government that hampers growth and development in a multicultural society, operating through a complex web of unelected ministers and special advisers. It is time we reclaim our heritage and our identity. These offices now run Yorubaland's affairs across the board, from Yoruba waterways to Yoruba theatre. This is a democratic deficit, contrary to Nigeria's first independent constitution, which established parliamentary democracy based on a distinct political identity and system.

Redressing the deficit concerns fairness, justice, and better government. Oduduwa Republic is the means of taking back control without turning our backs on our neighbours, determining our strategies, acting on essential issues, and facing the challenges of a new age in our way. The Government of the Commonwealth of the Yoruba Kingdom will significantly improve the prosperity and quality of life of the Yoruba people. No modern economy can thrive in isolation, and Yorubaland is no exception. It needs to remain integrated with its kith and kin in the Southern and Central Benin Republic and Central Togo, which are by far its most significant marketplaces. The potential for growth and development under the Oduduwa Republic is immense, and this promise should inspire hope and optimism in every Yoruba heart.

However, the Yoruba economy can be differentiated from other parts of the world in terms of its strengths and weaknesses. For example, Yorubaland has a relatively large export trade but heavily depends on a narrow export base, chiefly human resources and cocoa. It has a prestigious and thriving financial sector but is again skewed towards certain services. It has had a long-standing difficulty creating new growth companies and lasting jobs since the suspension of federalism based on regional government. It must contend with the communication challenges inherent in a population distributed unevenly across a large land mass. The Nigerian economic policy has, hardly surprisingly, failed to address these circumstances closely, systematically or effectively. The Commonwealth of the Yoruba's Government, equipped with the sort of power of a sovereign country, will be able to do much better. This paper is a new independent campaign focused on bringing Yorubas together in critical moments to drive change that promotes Oduduwa Republic.