Okun People Demand Re-integration Into Southwest, Seek Constitutional Restructuring

The Okun people of Kogi State have renewed their call for re-integration into Yorubaland, alongside a demand for constitutional restructuring to address what they describe as longstanding concerns over identity, political representation and development.

Dr Mrs Toba Ojo, the Yeye Akorede Okorogbede of Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, made the demand in a video shared on X by Yoruba Times.

Ojo said the Okun people are Yoruba speakers whose ancestral roots are in Yorubaland, stressing that the community wants to be integrated into what she described as its rightful cultural and political space.

“We are here to present our desire that has been longing to be integrated to where we actually belong,” she said.

According to her, the Okun people are spread across six local government areas of Kogi State — Kabba/Bunu, Yagba East, Yagba West, Ijumu, Mopa-Muro and parts of Lokoja.

She said the demand for restructuring was driven largely by three issues: identity, development and political representation.

On political representation, Ojo said the Okun people had not produced a governor since the creation of Kogi State 35 years ago.

“No one son or daughter of Okun land has gotten to the position of governor,” she said.

She argued that the three major ethnic groups she identified as Igala, Ebira and Okun should have benefited from political rotation.

“Despite the fact that there are three major tribes — Igala, Igbira and Okun — if done by rotation, two Okun people ought to have attained that, but it has never been,” she said.

“We are very lucky that our neighbours have voluntarily decided to join us. Our brethren in Okun Land, Igbomina, Itsekiri and Akoko-Edo, they are looking in our direction.

So this is willing, voluntary association that will benefit everybody. When they come, it’s not going to be… pic.twitter.com/pzBNs5peR3

— The Yoruba Times (@TheYorubaTimes) September 1, 2026

Ojo also raised concerns about the challenges created by the linguistic differences between the Okun people and other major ethnic groups in Kogi State.

“Our language and that of Igbira are far apart, our language and that of Igala are far apart. Even if we meet in the marketplace, how do we communicate? It has affected so many things,” she said.

She described the Okun people as hardworking and emphasised their historical connection to Yorubaland.

“Our root is in Yorubaland. Our root is in Ile-Ife. We emanate from Yorubaland,” she said.

Ojo said the people did not want to remain politically and developmentally disadvantaged, arguing that their future should be tied to the resurgence of the wider Yoruba region.

“Yoruba is rising again, so we want to rise with Yoruba. We don’t want to remain on the ground,” she said.

She further expressed frustration over what she described as the lack of visible development in Okunland despite the educational achievements of its people.

“We have remained on the ground for 35 years with nothing to show as indigene of Okun land,” she said.

According to Ojo, Okunland has produced a significant number of academics.

“Okun land can boast of close to 300 professors, but we are hampered,” she said.

She also claimed that the area lacked notable government institutions and infrastructure commensurate with its human capital.

“No government institution can be boasted of from government end in Okun land,” she said.

The call also reflects the broader concern among some Okun leaders and groups over the community’s political and administrative position within Kogi State.

Ojo said Okun representatives had communicated their concerns to people across the Yoruba region and received their support.

“We thank the Yoruba region for embracing us. We cried and made them understand our plight and they accepted us,” she said.

Video Credit: Yoruba Times |X|