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Pan Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, has praised the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, for directing a committee to work out support for Sunday Adeyemi, aka Sunday Igboho, and the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, for sending a delegation to Cotonou, Benin Republic, where the embattled Yoruba nation agitator is standing trial.
Igboho, is the arrowhead of activists agitating for Yoruba nation and putting an end to harm being inflicted on farmers and women in Yorubaland by Fulani herders.
The commendation of the monarchs was contained in a release issued on behalf of Chief Ayo Adebanjo, acting Leader of Afenifere, by Comrade Jare Ajayi, national publicity secretary of the organisation.
The Olubadan had sent a delegation to be at the court where the Yoruba nation agitator is being tried in Cotonou. The announcement was made public by Olubadan’s spokesman, Mr. Adeola Oloko, while the monarch was hosting the executive council members of Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) led by its president, Prince Yemisi Adeaga, on Sunday, July 25, 2021.
Afenifere also commended Oba Ogunwusi, who had last week set up the Ooni Caucus, meant to work on various issues pertaining to Yoruba interests including the travail presently being faced by Igboho.
The organisation equally praised some kings and Yoruba communities in Benin Republic, who reportedly rose in support of Igboho who is on trial in in the former French colony.
Afenifere said it was laudable that they are all working to ensure that Igboho, an Oduduwa son, does not suffer unjustly.
It posited that what is now regarded as the Sunday Igboho travail ought not occur at all, if there had been good governance in Nigeria.
“It is so sad that President Muhammadu Buhari‘s administration is concentrating on hunting and harassing those who are seeking relief from the oppressive situation in Nigeria while shying away from tackling the menaces of kidnapping, terrorism and antics bordering on ethnic cleansing,” the statement said.
On the propriety of Sunday Igboho trying to escape abroad, Afenifere maintained that there is nothing strange or wrong with this, adding that history is replete with conveyors of a new order having to seek refuge outside their immediate country, at least for a time.
“We recall that Moses had to be taken away from the prying eyes of Pharaoh and his agents in Egypt. Prophet Muhammed (s.a.w) too had to leave his hometown, Mecca for Medina in order to escape persecution. Thus, there is nothing wrong in Igboho seeking a respite first to preserve his life and perhaps to re-strategize,” it said.
Afenifere also accused the Federal Government of going after freedom agitators while neglecting those who are known to be behind terrorism in the country.
“By its conduct, government is giving people reasons to believe the allegation that it is pursuing a Fulanisation agenda. Harassment of freedom agitators and innocent citizens must stop forthwith,” Afenifere warned.
Afenifere urged other obas in Yorubaland and other prominent people to emulate the good examples of Olubadan and Ooni.