Yoruba Emancipation Union Demands Unconditional Release Of Sunday Igboho
Segun Akanni, Toronto, Canada 
Yoruba Emancipation Union, a Yoruba self determination group has demanded for the unconditional release of Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Igboho. This was contained in a Press statement made available to The Drum Online Media.
The statement read:
DEMAND FOR THE RELEASE OF CHIEF SUNDAY ADENIYI ADEYEMO (IGBOHO) FROM DETENTION IN BENIN REPUBLIC PRISON.
We, YORUBA EMANCIPATION UNION Worldwide, made up of distinguished Yoruba indigenous Patriots all over the world, hereby strongly demand for the immediate release of Chief Sunday Adeniyi Adeyemo aka Igboho from the Republic of Benin Prison, having been in detention since July 2021.
Our brother, Chief Sunday Adeniyi Adeyemo Igboho, is a highly responsible husband, father, principled, disciplined, law-abiding, hard-working and very patriotic Yoruba son. He detests injustice and all forms of oppression and criminalities, under whatever guise.
We reiterate our position to the effect that, the amalgamation of the Southern and Northern protectorates to form the present Nigeria in 1914, was a very serious political misadventure, same is anachronistic to a true and genuine human relationships. The rationale being that different ethnic nationalities with distinct cultural value systems, ethos, mores etc., were ignorantly lumped together forcefully, willy-nilly for economic reasons and administrative convenience by the colonialists, under Fredrick Lugard.
While the core Northern Nigeria dominated largely by Hausa / Fulani feudalistic oligarchy who believe in oppressing the poor masses, the Igbo people of South Eastern Nigeria were republicans. The Yoruba by far the largest ethnic group in Nigeria, believe and practised monarchical democracy. Thus the political disaster of 1914, gave rise to many untold deprivations, political subjugations, economic exploitations, religious and social mistrusts amongst the over 250 ethnic nationalities, who were ignorantly merged together by Fredrick Lugard.
The struggles for independence of the geographical expression called Nigeria, were no less acrimonious and bitter, amongst the various ethnic groups.
While the South Western Region, made up of the Yorubas started Free Education program in 1956, the rest of Nigeria remained totally oblivious of the need for such progressive developmental policy. Thus, in 1957, the South Western Yoruba people demanded for independence from the British Government, but the Northern region led by their leaders, were against the said independence.
When Nigeria finally got independence in 1960, fiscal federal government was agreed upon by the three major Regions that formed the geographical expression, called Nigeria. However, the Western region at that time, was by far more developed than the rest of Nigeria.
The rapid development of the Western Region of the Yorubas was short-lived, it got truncated out of envy, distrust, hatred and malice especially by the Northern oligarchy and their collaborators from the Eastern part of Nigeria
Thus the seed of political crises sowed by Fredrick Lugard in 1914, led to the first coup d’ etat in which many leaders of the First Republic were murdered by military men who tipped off their own ethnic group leaders to escape the onslaught. Many Yoruba patriots and ethnic nationalities like Brigadier Ademulegun, Colonel Shodehinde etc., were brutally killed by military officers
Another counter coup was led by Northern power brokers and executed by their own soldiers. Again, Yoruba patriots like Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi were also murdered in cold blood
The Federal constitution negotiated by the nationalists was jettisoned by the Igbo military junta led by Aguiyi Ironsi and also this move, was consolidated by the northern oligarchy military junta of July 29 1966.
All the foregoing provides the foundational political history of Nigeria in summary, in order to throw light into the present political instabilities in Nigeria
All the governments of Nigeria have been remotely controlled by the Northern Fulani power brokers who have arrogantly arrogated political and economic wisdom, to run the machineries of Nigerian Government, to their tribesmen only. But the facts on ground like insecurity of lives and properties, political underdevelopment, economic retrogression, inflation, unemployment, etc., has proved beyond doubt, their incompetence and mediocrity to handle the affairs of government, effectively and efficiently.
The Government of Muhammadu Buhari which was inaugurated in 2015, has not only compounded the political and economic woes of the paradigm of absurdities called Nigeria, but has added frightening dimensions of religious acrimonious fundamentalism of mass bloodshed, spearheaded by Boko Haram terrorists. We now have the Fulani murderous herdsmen buoyed and actively supported in terms of arms supply and funding by Buhari government, to murder innocent and defenceless farmers, in order to take over their lands, all in the name of Fulanirisation agenda.
There are many political bandits brought to the country from Niger, Mali and as far as Libya by Northern “politriktians” who were armed with sophisticated weaponry like AK 47.There are also acclaimed terrorists in the corridors of power like Issa Pantami, who not only sponsor terrorists, but use their political influence to block the arrests of Fulani criminals and generally truncate any attempt by security forces, to bring them to book.
Miyetti Allah is also a Fulani terrorist organisation with Muhammadu Buhari, as the patron. This organization is in the forefront of many killings, arsons, rapes, destructions, maiming and kidnappings, across the length and breadth of Nigeria.
It has become so bad that even serving governors of states and top ranking military and eminent civilians are not spared. Governor Ortom of Benue state was lucky enough, to escape being murdered by Fulanis.
After his escape from assassination, Miyetti Allah claimed responsibility and boasted of being behind the criminal attempt to murder a sitting Governor. Till date, no one has been arrested for the assassination attempt and of course, there are so many unresolved killings in Nigeria. The criminal activities of the Fulani herdsmen, gradually moved down to Southern Nigeria.
Indeed, it became overwhelmingly alarming to the extent no one irrespective of status, is safe. While all the criminalities against innocent and defenceless Nigerians were happening, the only thing we heard from Muhammadu Buhari government, is a serial release of hypocritical condolences to the victims of the dastard acts, and their unlucky families
All our political leaders and traditional rulers at this juncture, except very insignificant few, maintained deafening silence. See no evil, say no evil.
It was at the juncture that, when Yorubas people were being murdered by the Fulanis emboldened by the silence of Muhammadu Buhari government and the political leaders that, Sunday Adeniyi Adeyemo Igboho spoke against bloodshed spearheaded by Fulanis against Yoruba farmers. Many Yoruba farmers were killed, maimed and their products destroyed. Many Yoruba women were raped and some were killed after being callously raped. There were many notorious Fulani kidnappers who openly negotiated the collection of ransoms after payment. Igangan and the adjourning areas of Oyo State, was a celebrated example.
Sunday Adeniyi Adeyemo Igboho spoke against all these and protested openly against same because the government of Muhammadu Buhari, failed colossally to protect the citizens of Nigeria generally, and in particular, the Yoruba people who are his kith and kin
Instead of rising up or waking up to its original and right responsibilities of protecting the people, the government of Buhari came up with all kinds of propaganda, such as, “ethnic profiling” of the Fulani tribesmen.
There is no society that is totally crime free. But government should not be seen to support criminal activities, promote or defend same. The government of Muhammadu Buhari is blood thirsty and unrepentant about its Fulanirisation agenda.
In all of Sunday Adeniyi Adeyemo Igboho rallies at Ogun, Osun, Ekiti, and Ondo States, there was not a single loss of life. There was no fighting. There was total peace during and after these rallies.
On 1st July 2021, Chief Sunday Adeniyi Adeyemo Igboho’s residence was invaded in the Gestapo manner by a detachment of Nigeria soldiers, State Security operatives, police officers and men, numbering over 300 at ungodly hour, without any search warrant. Two defenceless innocent men were mercilessly murdered in cold blood. Properties worth billions were destroyed. Money and other valuable materials including gold, were stolen. Even cats were killed. He was thereafter declared wanted by the dreaded DSS.
Meanwhile the security operative that commanded the killer squad to his house that night we learnt, told his operatives to capture him “DEAD OR ALIVE.” Indeed, Chief Sunday Adeniyi Adeyemo Igboho was lucky to escape the illegal onslaught on his house at Soka Area of Ibadan on the night of 1st July 2021
Several attempts have been earlier made on the life of Chief Sunday Adeniyi Adeyemo by the Nigeria state security operatives, like the one along Lagos/Ibadan Expressway on or about the month of June 2021.
While it was manifestly clear that his life was in grave danger in Nigeria, Chief Sunday Adeniyi Adeyemo tried traveling via Benin Republic to Germany in company of his wife and brother, but he was arrested through the collusion of security operatives of Benin Republic and Nigeria. One helicopter was provided by Muhammadu Buhari government to fly him into Abuja, the capital of Nigeria. Thanks to the vigilance of Ilana Omo Oduduwa, the Yoruba Patriotic indigenous ethnic group, who frustrated the illegal plan
While in custody of Benin Republic authorities, Chief Sunday Adeniyi Adeyemo petitioned the court on July 22 2021 through his Counsel Chief Yomi Aliyu SAN before Justice Ladiran Akintola of Oyo State High Court, alleging that the invasion of his home at the wee hours of 1st July 2021 constitute a flagrant infringement of his fundamental human rights, pursuant to Sections 33 to 46 of 1999 Constitution as amended, and the relevant articles of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights. Two persons were killed while 12 others were arrested following the raid by DSS.
The above case witnessed many objections from Buhari government, such as, challenging the jurisdiction of the Oyo State High Court to hear the petition. Interestingly, all the legal hurdles placed on the path of justice, were surmounted by the savvy Counsels of Chief Sunday Adeniyi Adeyemo.
Specifically, the Petitioner sought 16 Reliefs from the Court, amongst which were that the Gestapo like raid on his home by Nigeria security operatives at the wee hours of 1st July 2021 without warrant, was illegal.
Delivering judgment on 17th September 2021, Justice Ladiran Akintola granted all the 16 reliefs sought by Chief Sunday Adeniyi Adeyemo and awarded N20 Billion to him as exemplary and aggravated damages and described DSS action as illegal and arbitrary aggression and prejudices against Igboho. Another sum of N2 Million was awarded as cost in favour of the Plaintiff. Further, the court held inter alia that he has right to his free movement as contained in Section 35.1 (a)(b) of the 1999 Constitution as amended. The court refrained the respondents from arresting or harassing intimidating and freezing the bank account of Igboho, and that the respondents, should return all the items seized from his home which include N2 million cash, travel documents, gold jewelry, wristwatches, two mobile phones and other items yet unknown.
The Court also ordered a public apology for the destruction of Sunday Igboho’s properties and an investigation into the action(s) of the joint security operatives that raided Sunday Adeyemo’s house, which was led by the Department of State Services.
To all lovers of democracy in Nigeria and across the globe, the most important part of the landmark judgment of Justice Ladiran Akintola is that Chief Sunday Adeniyi Adeyemo did nothing criminal by virtue of his agitation for self-determination of the Yoruba people; self-determination is provided for in the Constitution of Nigeria 1999 as amended, same is supported by the African Charter, as well as, the United Nations Charter. This is the rationale for the recognition of Yoruba Nation, by the United Nations.
We of Yoruba Emancipation Union Worldwide, profusely salute the courage of Justice Ladiran Akintola, for the precedent he laid. His judgment in the case of our beloved Sunday Igboho, is an exhibition of judicial activism. The erudite Justice Ladiran Akintola has rekindled hope for the oppressed and highly traumatized citizens of Nigeria, ipso facto, confirmed that the rule of law, is still in existence in Nigeria.
From all the foregoing, it is crystal clear that Chief Sunday Adeniyi Adeyemo Igboho is a victim of illegal onslaught, tyranny and oppression. He is the vanguard and conscience of the Yoruba Nation, he rose to the challenge of the crude methods employed to wipe off Yoruba race and take over their lands. His continued detention would further disconnect the people of Yoruba race from Nigeria. The best option for the government of Nigeria, is to adopt a political solution by facilitating the unconditional release of Chief Sunday Adeniyi Adeyemo from Benin Republic prison. After his release, the Yoruba Nation can sit down and “jaw jaw” on the way forward for Nigeria.
We of Yoruba Emancipation Union Worldwide are therefore calling on governments of Benin Republic and Nigeria, to release unconditionally and without further delay Chief Sunday Adeniyi Adeyemo Igboho.
Injustice, wickedness, cruelty and impunity usually hold sway when men and women of integrity who love justice, keep quiet.
God bless the good people of Yoruba Nation!
Thank you!
Signed
Prof EFG Ajayi Pa Demola Fatukasi Otunba Mark Adesanya Dr. Demola Akanbi Comrade Bode Olasinde Dr. Ezekiel Jide Falola Prof J Olufemi Olapade
Dr. Idowu Steven Engr. Olu Olu Aiyegbusi Pastor Joel Agbebi
Comrade Olusegun Olatunji Prof Joseph Aina Prof Mrs. Bukola Oyawoye
Dr. Mrs. Badru and Dr. Akintoye Okesokun
Rue Van Lint’s 73,
1070, Brussels,
Belgium
Email: yorubaemanpunion2021@gmail.com
