Segun Akanni, Toronto, Canada 
The Oodua Worldwide, a Diaspora pro-Yoruba socio-cultural group, has called for an unconditional and urgent release of Yoruba self determination activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo (Igboho) and four of his aides still held in detention.
The group made the call, just as it commended the efforts of notable Yoruba traditional rulers and leaders, geared towards the invasion, odious arrest and detention of the Yoruba nation agitators.
The Soka, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, home of the pro-Yoruba self-determination activist, Sunday Adeyemo, was invaded by men from the Directorate of State Security (DSS), at about 1:30am, July 1, 2021, leading to the arrest of 12 of his aides, while Igboho managed to escape arrest.
Reacting, President of the Oodua Worldwide, a Canadian based organization, Prince Adewale Julius Ojo, said the government of Nigeria blundered by the crude invasion and should fast track the release of Igboho and his four aides, still in detention.
According to him, “prompt and unconditional release of Igboho is what can give a credible and unbiased face to a government that is now being seen by many as one with a mission to subdue other nations in Nigeria to favour one.
“According to Ojo, the influx of notable Yoruba leaders to the Benin Republic and the overwhelming support for Igboho’s course by overwhelming majority of Yoruba in Nigeria are clear proof that he was only a crusader of the mindset of his race, majority of who feel so shortchanged in the present Nigerian arrangement and are clamouring for change.
“He condemned the peace meal approach to the release of the aides while their leader is still in a Beninoise detention, saying all those arrested ought to have been released together since they were alleged to have committed same offence.
Eight aides of Sunday Igboho were released on Monday by the Department of State Service, DSS, even as they had been granted bail since August 4, 2021.
They are:
Abdullateef Onaolapo,
Tajudeen Irinloye,
Dikeola Ademola,
Ayobami Donald,
Uthman Adelabu,
Olakunle Oluwapelumi,
Raji Kazeem
Taiwo Tajudeen
The four others still being held in detention are:
Amudat Babatunde
Abideen Shittu
Jamiu Oyetunji
Bamidele Sunday.
The secret police was said to have claimed that the four of them were actively involved in Igboho’s “criminal activities.”
Igboho was arrested in a West African city, Cotonou, on July 16, 2021 with his wife, while trying to escape to Germany and has since then been in detention.
The Oodua Worldwide has maintained that Igboho was fighting a just course which should not attract the big stick wielded by the Federal Government.
The group posited that self-determination agitation is a fundamental human right that should not be met with stiff resistance as being demonstrated by the Nigerian government.
Prince Ojo wondered why a section of the country has been terrorising the citizens of Nigeria unmolested while Igboho, who is carrying out a peaceful agitation would be the headache of government.
“We are making this urgent demand that Igboho and his remaining aides in detention should be released immediately to avert a looming danger hovering around Nigeria, if swift, urgent steps are not taken on the right track. We still can’t reconcile why known national tormentors, walk the streets of Nigeria unmolested while those on a popular struggle suddenly became objects of intimidation by our government
“We are appalled that the nation is fast degenerating and no one seems to care about what would become of a once fledgling country which seems to have lost its soul to petty politicking by those ordained to guide it to fruition.
“We maintain that the only way peace and tranquility can reign in Nigeria is for government to restore hope that a new Nigeria is still a possibility. Anything to the contrary will pose a serious danger to the unity of our country, Nigeria,” Ojo stressed
