Oodua Peoples Congress
Encyclopedia
The Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) is a militant Yoruba
nationalist organization situated in Nigeria
. The Yoruba people, who live in the South Western part of Nigeria, as well as neighbouring countries such as Benin
, are a large ethno-linguistic group; the majority of them speak the Yoruba language
(ede Yorùbá). The Yoruba constitute approximately 35 percent of Nigeria
's total population, and around 50 million individuals throughout the region of West Africa
.
They are also known as the Oodua Liberation Movement (OLM) or the Revolutionary Council of Nigeria (RCN)
, decided to form an organization to actualize the annulled mandate of Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola
, a Yoruba who won the presidential election of June 12, 1993 but was barred from office.
Although the founding president of the OPC was Fasehun, in 1999 a faction led by Ganiyu Adams
broke off from the main organization, but continued usage of the main parties name is led by Ganiyu Adams
. Adams and Fasehun are widely held by the Yoruba to be the leaders of the OPC.
In December 1999, the newly formed Arewa People's Congress
said it would begin full self-defence training for northern residents in reaction to attacks on Hausas by the OPC.
Yoruba people
The Yoruba people are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa. The majority of the Yoruba speak the Yoruba language...
nationalist organization situated in Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
. The Yoruba people, who live in the South Western part of Nigeria, as well as neighbouring countries such as Benin
Benin
Benin , officially the Republic of Benin, is a country in West Africa. It borders Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east and Burkina Faso and Niger to the north. Its small southern coastline on the Bight of Benin is where a majority of the population is located...
, are a large ethno-linguistic group; the majority of them speak the Yoruba language
Yoruba language
Yorùbá is a Niger–Congo language spoken in West Africa by approximately 20 million speakers. The native tongue of the Yoruba people, it is spoken, among other languages, in Nigeria, Benin, and Togo and in communities in other parts of Africa, Europe and the Americas...
(ede Yorùbá). The Yoruba constitute approximately 35 percent of Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
's total population, and around 50 million individuals throughout the region of West Africa
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
.
They are also known as the Oodua Liberation Movement (OLM) or the Revolutionary Council of Nigeria (RCN)
History
The Oodua Peoples Congress was formed when a group of Yoruba elite, including Frederick FasehunFrederick Fasehun
Dr. Frederick Fasehun is a Nigerian medical doctor, hotel owner and leader of the Oodua Peoples Congress . The OPC is Yoruba-based organization formed to actualize the annulled mandate of Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, a Yoruba who won the presidential election of June 12, 1993 but was...
, decided to form an organization to actualize the annulled mandate of Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola
Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola
Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola , often referred to as M. K. O. Abiola, was a popular Nigerian Yoruba businessman, publisher, politician and aristocrat of the Egba clan...
, a Yoruba who won the presidential election of June 12, 1993 but was barred from office.
Although the founding president of the OPC was Fasehun, in 1999 a faction led by Ganiyu Adams
Ganiyu Adams
Ganiyu Adams is the leader of a faction of the Oodua Peoples Congress, a secessionist and nationalist organisation based in Nigeria, which supports a sovereign state for the Yoruba people.-References:...
broke off from the main organization, but continued usage of the main parties name is led by Ganiyu Adams
Ganiyu Adams
Ganiyu Adams is the leader of a faction of the Oodua Peoples Congress, a secessionist and nationalist organisation based in Nigeria, which supports a sovereign state for the Yoruba people.-References:...
. Adams and Fasehun are widely held by the Yoruba to be the leaders of the OPC.
In December 1999, the newly formed Arewa People's Congress
Arewa People's Congress
The Arewa People's Congress is a group in Northern Nigeria established to protect the interests of the Muslim Hausa and Fulani of the area. It has been described as a militant wing of the Arewa Consultative Forum....
said it would begin full self-defence training for northern residents in reaction to attacks on Hausas by the OPC.
External links
- Globalsecurity.org - Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Oodua Liberation Movement (OLM), Revolutionary Council of Nigeria (RCN)
- Yoruba Country
- THE YORUBA NATION AND SELF-DETERMINATION By Ganiyu Adams, President, Oodua People's Congress
- Humanrights.de - Video recording of the discussion between Kayode Ogundamisi, Dr. Anthony Edeh and Ulrike Bendrat 30.06.03 - requires Real Player