Akinwande Soji-Ojo
Leader of Ilana Omo Oodua, a Yoruba self-determination group, Professor Banji Akintoye, has declared that President Bola Tinubu was not responsible for the recent release of Yoruba nation agitator, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, aka Sunday Igboho, from protective custody in Benin Republic.
Recall that Igboho, who was released by the government of Benin Republic under the leadership of President Patrice Talon, last Sunday, had acknowledged the support and solidarity of some notable Yoruba leaders during his travails in Cotonou, which lasted over two years.
However, while reacting to a viral video of an unidentified Igbo militant leader who reportedly claimed that Tinubu should ensure the release of the leader of proscribed Independent People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, just as he (Tinubu) facilitated Igboho’s freedom, Akintoye said “President Tinubu had no hands in Sunday Igboho’s freedom.”
A statement made available to newsmen by Akintoye’s spokesperson, Mr Gani Alagbala, on Saturday, said it is imperative to correct the wrong impression in some quarters that Tinubu facilitated the freedom of Igboho.
“This is in response to the viral video of an Igbo militant leader, proclaiming that President Bola Tinubu should release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, just has he (President) has released Chief Sunday Igboho
“Although we will not fault our Igbo brothers, nor criticise them for seeking the freedom for the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, in any way.
“However, we must set the record straight. The Nigerian authorities and administration under the presidency of Bola Ahmed Tinubu has got no hands in the release and total freedom of our frontliner, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, a.k.a Igboho
“We give the credit to the Almighty God, then the efforts of our leadership in this Yoruba nation struggle supported by well-meaning friends at home and abroad. This had been a tedious and tasking process, but we give glory to God that granted us success in Sunday’s freedom at last.
“We strongly deny the involvement of any politician or officials of the Nigerian government in all these processes, for simply there was none. Our appreciation again goes to the Republic of Benin government for not denying us justice at last, despite some political pressures.
“And we wish our Igbo brother Mazi Nnamdi Kanu a quicker release from the Nigeria incarceration,” the statement said.
