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Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, has rallied 10 prominent Benin Republic monarchs to support embattled Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, better known as Sunday Igboho.
Igboho, who has been in police custody since his arrest last week at an airport in Cotonou, is currently fighting being extradited to Nigeria from the former French colony.
Adams, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Aderemi, on Monday, said the monarchs have been assigned to play both traditional and fatherly roles in ensuring that Igboho’s right to freedom was protected without abuse or misjudgements.
“I am not comfortable with the way the Federal Government is handling Sunday Igboho’s case and I have made my position known to the world. I have also rallied over ten prominent Yoruba monarchs in Republic of Benin to discuss the possibility of getting Igboho off the hook, and ensure that he regains his freedom unconditionally.
“Going forward, I think we must stand by him because we are all in the struggle for the liberation of our race and whatever happens to Igboho happens to us. And the journey, though, didn’t begin with him, it will definitely not end with him, because the agitation for self-determination is our legitimate rights for which we are ready to follow with all our strengths,” he said.
The Aare Ona Kakanfo further said the move to seek the monarchs’ intervention became imperative because of the sensitive nature of the case, adding that the 10 prominent monarchs are in the best position to work with the authorities in Republic of Benin to ensure there is justice for Igboho.
The monarchs include Alajowun of Ajowun land, Oba Signon Adekilumo; Alajase of Ajase-Ile Porto-Novo, Oba Alajase Onikoyi; Onitowe of Towe land, Oba Shitu Adeleke; Ologunba of Ogunba, Oba Adio Ogunju; Oniohorije of Ohori land, Oba Awelede Salomon; Onimasse of Mase land, Oba Akerekoro; Palais Royal de Seme Krake, Sa Majeste Roi de Krake; Palais Royal de Ilase Sa Majeste Roi de Ilase, Oloye R. Oguntosin Taye, among others.