Yoruba leaders and scholars gathered in Luxembourg have renewed their demand for the restructuring of Nigeria, arguing that good governance and lasting unity depend on it. The call came out of the 2026 edition of the Oodua Progressive Union (OPU) Europe Summit, themed “The Yoruba Response to Restructuring, Insecurity and Cultural Erosion in a Struggling Federation of Nigeria.”
Who spoke at the OPU Europe Summit?
Reports name the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, among the prominent voices, alongside traditional rulers from Ogun State, including the Alagbegise of Agbegise Kingdom, Oba Ikudaisi Olusina, and the Oniselu of Odo Iselu, Oba Oladipupo Badejo. Engineer Philip Nganyandi chaired the event, and Giwa Tobi of the University of Luxembourg also addressed the audience.
Restructuring and true federalism
Adams stressed the need to recalibrate Nigeria’s federal system so that it delivers equity, justice and effective governance. Speakers described the over-centralisation of power at the federal level as counter-productive, and as a root cause of inefficiency and the marginalisation of the Yoruba nation. They pushed for true federalism that gives states genuine autonomy, along with constitutional reforms that decentralise power, strengthen resource control by states and reinforce local governance.
Insecurity as a shared responsibility
On Nigeria’s insecurity crisis, Adams argued that the problem is a collective responsibility and cannot be solved by military action alone. Nganyandi observed that restructuring, insecurity and cultural erosion are interconnected, so they call for a holistic response. Giwa Tobi added that practical federalism and the empowerment of local security groups are the true pillars of Nigeria’s future, helping communities confront insecurity head-on.
Why this matters for Yoruba identity
By tying governance reform to security and culture, the summit framed the Yoruba question as more than a political one. The message from Luxembourg is that protecting Yoruba identity, language and heritage cannot be separated from how power is structured across the federation.
Source: reports by The Guardian Nigeria, Vanguard, The Eagle Online and New Telegraph. Image credits: Cedric Letsch on Unsplash.
