PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS AND THE SOCIO-POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS OF OODUA SEPARATIST MOVEMENT IN SOUTHWEST NIGERIA

Background: The proximity of regional settlement by members of each major tribe- Yoruba, Hausa, and Igbo- is instrumental in formulating ethnic militia groups and garnering local support across the nation. Research Problem: However, the period preceding the Nigerian 2023 elections was characterized by demonstrations and secessionist plots by the Yorubas over attacks across their region by Fulani herdsmen, while blaming the existence of these security threats on the impunity of the government. Despite the emergence of the Yoruba as the President, the activities of the Oodua separatist group for the Yoruba’s emancipation continued to intensify. Therefore, this paper assesses the perceptions of the Yoruba citizens about the separatist movement and the socio-political implications in their region. Methods/Theoretical Framework: Resting on the Frustration-Aggression theory, this paper adopted a qualitative methodology and gathered data from both primary and secondary sources through semi-structured interviews. The participants included members of the separatist group, the informal security network, and the Yoruba citizens residing in the region, who were selected through a purposive sampling technique. Results: The study discovered that the reinvigoration of the Oodua group is a result of unmet expectations of the Yoruba citizens by the incumbent administration, which also leveraged their platform to win the 2023 elections. Conclusion: The study argued that the intensification of the activities of this group has weakened the security bond in the region, with the gradual incorporation of the members of the Oodua group into formal and informal security agencies. Key Contributions to Knowledge: The paper contributed to knowledge by revealing theimpacts of OoduaRepublic agitations on thenational security and socio-political activities in the southwest region. Recommendations: The study recommended that the government ensure a regular security orientation program for the security forces to prevent security sabotage by agitators who are secretly working against the interests of the government.