A Yoruba President Sends Sunday Igboho’s Yoruba Nation Fight On HoldÂ
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The Yoruba nation agitator, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, who goes by Sunday Igboho, has somehow gone quiet. A Yoruba president has sated his dissatisfaction with the Nigerian union. It would seem like until the Yoruba president is unseated, Mr Igboho’s Yoruba Nation will maintain its hiatus. Clearly, it was not a Yoruba Nation Mr Igboho was seeking; he wanted everything Yoruba. As long as a Yoruba run the country, Mr Igboho is fine.
Mr Igboho has taken his Yoruba-ness one step further by condemning the upcoming protest. Why is Mr Igboho against Nigerians protesting against the worsening living standard the country has ever seen? This protest has the potential to serve as a pivotal moment, where the collective voice of the people gains recognition and attention.
Igboho: Once a Yoruba Nation agitator, now a Tinubuist
Mr Igboho’s statement reads, “I, Chief Sunday Igboho, am issuing this press release in response to the planned protests by some unknown and faceless individuals working to disintegrate the country.”. Notice the language and word choice? It is a 360-degree turn from the Yoruba Nation agitator. Disintegrate? Isn’t that precisely what the Yoruba Nation is, or shall I say, was all about given the hiatus? Since when has Chief Igboho been concerned about Nigeria’s disintegration? In his statement, Chief Igboho sounded like President Tinubu’s campaign manager. You can read the complete statement at the bottom of this article.
Note: Chief Igboho’s complete statement is at the bottom of this article if you want to read it.
Mr Soyinka, another habitual critic of presidents, has not said a single word against Nigeria’s potentially worst president. I never thought Wole Soyinka was such a tribal bigot. I had assumed that individuals with global exposure would perceive tribal politics for it is— petty and unhealthy. Mr Soyinka is more interested in attacking the guy who is not running Nigeria, Mr Peter Obi, instead of the one driving it into ruins.
These are two remarks made by Wole Soyinka to former presidents Goodluck Jonathan and Muhamadu Buhari:
Jonathan is worse than Nebuchadnezzar and coined his wife a “sheppopotamus.”.
‘President Muhammadu Buhari is suffering from “mental delusion.”.
Prof. Wole Soyinka: once addicted to criticising presidents, now a lackey to one
Despite the differing views of Igboho and Soyinka, Yoruba groups have thrown their weight behind the upcoming protest. This united front is very reassuring, as it highlights the shared struggle that every Nigerian faces due to the actions of those in power. I still maintain that Nigerians cannot protest like Kenyans, but this does not diminish the power of collective action in a nation where a common goal is yet to be defined.Â
See the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9G9wmctrDkE
Below is the complete statement from Chief Sunday Adeyemo, who goes by Sunday Igboho
“I, Chief Sunday Igboho, am issuing this press release in response to the planned protests by some unknown and faceless individuals working to disintegrate the country.
“Since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office on May 29, 2023, he has implemented revolutionary policies, which his predecessors lacked the political will to pursue.
“These bold steps have, unsurprisingly, unsettled those who believe it is their birthright to rule Nigeria. As a result, there have been attempts to undermine his administration, particularly on social media, in order to create discord between the government and the people.
“Recently, we have become aware of notices from unknown individuals threatening ’10 days of rage’, beginning August 1, 2024, under the slogan ‘Tinubu Must Go!’
“Our constitution enshrines the right to peaceful protest, but it does not extend to calls for an unconstitutional regime change. It is worth noting that during President Buhari’s eight-year tenure, there were no such protests for regime change from the Southwest, even when our people faced oppression and atrocities by Fulani terrorists.
“Our protests focused on protecting our communities, not destabilising the country. The Yoruba Nation Movement and I firmly declare that we will not participate in any protest aimed at using the Southwest as a battleground for political upheaval.
“We stand resolute in our belief that the Yoruba nation will not be a launchpad for disintegrating Nigeria. We acknowledge that economic hardship is a worldwide occurrence, not exclusive to Nigeria.
“Since my release from the unjust detention orchestrated by former President Buhari and his then attorney general of the federation, Abubakar Malami, I have travelled extensively across Europe, the Middle East, West Africa, and North America.
“People are facing challenges everywhere, and governments are implementing palliatives to alleviate these hardships. In Nigeria, PBAT’s government has introduced measures to reduce food prices and increased the minimum wage from 30,000 to 70,000, demonstrating a commitment to improving the lives of the working populace.
“Let us be clear: the protest is politically motivated. We call on all Yoruba people and well-meaning Nigerians to reject this movement. The Yoruba Nation unequivocally opposes any such protests.
“Like President Buhari, President Tinubu must be allowed to complete his term in office. The path to change lies in democratic processes—through the ballot box or a referendum. Those who seek change must wait until the next elections in 2027.
“We urge our members and the broader community to resist any temptation to participate in these protests, as they do not serve the interests of the Yoruba people or the nation.
“We also issue a strong and unequivocal warning that we will firmly resist any individuals or groups attempting to instigate violence under the guise of these protests. They are strictly warned to stay off the streets across Yorubaland on the designated protest days and in the future. To be forewarned is to be forearmed.”
By Ikechukwu ORJI
