It has been revealed that the Yoruba people who dominated South-West Nigeria also constituted about one-quarter of the total population in Benin Republic.
This was revealed by the Secretary-General of the Federation of Yoruba Obas in Benin Republic (FYOBR), Oba Abdul-Wahab Adio Ogunjin during an interview with Bola Bamigbola.
The Yoruba Monarch added that there are total of 34 Yoruba Obas in Benin Republic
He also disclosed that there are other Nigerian groups that are in Nigeria and are also in Benin Republic, such as Gambari, Hausa, Egun. He noted that the Egun ethnic group is the largest ethnic group in Benin.
There is a strong historical connection between the Yoruba and the Egun people. They can largely be found in Lagos and Ogun. They dominated the Iyewa region in Ogun State.
Ogunjin talked about the relationship between the Yoruba in Benin Republic and the Yoruba in Nigeria, specifically their connection to Ife.
He added that the Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Ogunwusi had not left them with their challenges after the demise of the Late Ooni Okunade Sijuade.
Ogunjin also revealed that the Yoruba people in Benin Republic are facing political prosecution in the country. adding that there was a group in Benin that had always blocking the success of the Yoruba politics.
The monarch disclosed that virtually all the deities in Nigeria were also in Benin and they were celebrated often.
