Before colonialism, the ancient Yoruba operated their own constitution.

The Yoruba constitution was a model of grassroots democracy. The unit of governance was the ‘Ilu’ (ie city, town or village). At the head of each ‘Ilu’ was the Oba, with a rotating tenure, supported by a council of chiefs (ie local councillors), representing the different constituents and interests of the ‘Ilu’. The role of governance was restricted to ‘law and order’, which was basically adjudicating ‘contracts’ between groups, individuals and interests. The laws, being based on custom and tradition, were taught from childhood and known by all, and did not have to be contained in books. The laws were successfully operated without establishing vast police forces or prisons.
 
Services such as education, health and religion were delivered entirely by private enterprise. Governance in the old Yorubaland played no part in, and did not interfere with, the delivery of services. As loose as this governance arrangement was, it sustained an empire, the Yoruba Empire, that lasted several generations until it was destroyed by contact with the Europeans. The proposed Oduduwa Republic would revive, codify and make the Yoruba constitution operational. The proposed Oduduwa Republic would make Yoruba our national language and restore pride in our custom and tradition. The proposed Oduduwa Republic would make Yorubaland alive and great again. Support our quest for self-determination.