Igboho will return back to Nigeria soon, Akintoye vows

 

By Ayodele Ifasakin 

The leader of the umbrella body of Yoruba Self-Determination Groups, Ilana Omo Oodua, Professor Banji Akintoye, has disclosed that the body, other groups are working hard to secure the release of embattled Yoruba Nation agitator Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho, who is on trial in Benin Republic.

Sunday Igboho 

The Nation reports Igboho has been in detention since July 19, 2021 when he was arrested by Interpol at the Cadjèhoun Airport in Cotonou.

He was arrested with his wife, Ropo, but the Cour De’appal De Cotonou ordered the release of the Germany-based wife of the activist, saying there were no allegations against her.

Akintoye in a statement made available to The Nation by his Communications Manager, Maxwell Adeleye, described some media reports (Not The Nation) that he has left Nigeria to escape the plots of the government to arrest him as untrue.

Akintoye explained he is Benin Republic to coordinate and supervise how to legally rescue the embattled agitator, from government remand as soon as possible.

He stated that Igboho committed no offense against the Nigeria laws to warrant being arrested, intimidated or harassed and he’ll return back to Nigeria as soon as Ighoho is released by the government of Benin Republic to continue the struggle for the actualisation of Yoruba Nation.

“Myself, the President-General and Professor Wale Adeniran (Chairman) of Ilana Omo Oodua, are currently in the Republic of Benin as reported, but not on the run.

“We are here to supervise and coordinate, by all legal and and other means, the struggle for the release of our son and patriot, Sunday Adeyemo Igboho, detained by the Government from custody.

“By demanding peaceful self-determination for the Yoruba Nation, i am not breaking any law, since self-determination is recognized by the International and Nigerian laws to be an inalienable right of every Nationality, large or small, in the world.

“I have earned a solid reputation as a highly respectable advocate of a peaceful self-determination struggle. I have even written a book on the subject which is already being used as a manual by Yoruba self-determination advocates and organizations.

“Irrespective of what the Nigerian Government may be planning against me, I want to say without any fear or intimidation that I will be returning to Nigeria immediately Ighoho is released from the custody. I can’t be intimidated because I’ve not committed any offense, just like Sunday Igboho.

“Let me tell all Yoruba People across the world that there’s no cause for alarm. I didn’t flee to anywhere. I am in Benin Republic running your errands. The struggle is no retreat, no surrender.”

Akintoye also debunked the media reports that Igboho has been abandoned, and that the embattled agitator is personally funding the court cases against the governments of Nigeria and Benin Republic respectively to secure his (Igboho) and his aides’ release.

Amotekun: South-West Governors Vows To Continue With Operation

AgegePulse Magazine

Chairman of the South West governors forum, Rotimi Akeredolu has vowed that the six governors would pursue operation Amotekun to a logical conclusion.

Apparently reacting to the pronouncement of the Federal government that the concept was illegal, Akeredolu who spoke at the 2020 armed forces remembrance day celebration in Akure, the Ondo state capital said there was no going back.

“We the six south west governors are fully prepared to ensure that operation Amotekun succeeds.

“Amotekun is not a para-military outfit, the introduction of the security outfit is to Compliment the efforts of other security agencies.

We are prepared to ensure operation Amotekun succeeds. Operation Amotekun is not a paramilitary outfit”.

Reaffirming, the need for the security outfit, governor Akeredolu said “It is in our quest to further curtail the menace of kidnapping, banditry and other crimes in Ondo State and the entire Southwest region that we launched Operation “Amotekun” .

“It is one of the many solutions being proffered to our security challenges in Western Nigeria.

“We want to assure you that the activities of the personnel working for the outfit will be monitored and streamlined along their mandate of securing lives and property of people of Ondo State and entire Western Nigeria and it will not be used for political purposes.

In another development, Ekiti state governor, Kayode Fayemi while speaking on Daily Trust Television, was quoted as saying that the issue now should not be about whether Federal Government or governors can misuse Police or any security outfit.

Explaining the logic behind the setting up of the security outfit, Fayemi said “power, unrestrained is always misused. “That initiatives are springing up points to the fact that citizens are not happy with the security situation in the land.”
Does the Federal government not misuse Police in 2014? I was a sitting Governor, I had immunity; I was assaulted. Go into history books. What we should be talking about is how to make sure the security institution is accountable within the frameworks of democratic control.

“It is not about whether the Federal Government or governors can misuse Police. Power, unrestrained is always misused. That different initiatives are springing up points to the fact that citizens are not happy with the security situation in the land.

“Governors have a duty and responsibility that are spelt out in the constitution: The security and welfare of the citizens should be their number one priority.

“So, if people in my own area of jurisdiction are saying “ we don’t know what you are doing”, should something not be done? We are funding Police, we are buying vehicles, we are buying security gadgets, we are paying allowances, yet we don’t get enough security.

“There is nothing unique about what we are doing. I am glad that Governor Lalong said “we haven’t seen the details of what you are doing but we are working on a similar arrangement in our own area.

Meanwhile, speaking on the armed forces remembrance day, Akeredolu said that the nation remained grateful for the selfless service of the Armed Forces through their contributions and sacrifice.

Akeredolu described the annual Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration as a unique opportunity to reflect on the sacrifices made in the past years by the Nigeria Armed Forces to ensure global and internal peace and security of lives and properties.

He also thanked the entire members the Nigeria Armed Forces for controlling crime before, during and after the yuletide period through “Operation Crocodile Smile”.

The Governor said the relentless efforts of the members of the nation’s Armed Forces is beginning to yield positive result in the state and the country in general.

DailyTimes