Igboho: They Want Him Dead- Yoruba Monarch

By James Orji

The Oluwo of Iwo, Osun state Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, has urged Sunday Igboho, to dialogue with the federal government in his own interest, adding that those urging him to press on with his agitation for a Yoruba Nation want him dead.

Meanwhile, the magazine learnt that the activist has been making frantic efforts to leave the country after the DSS declared him a fugitive. Multiple sources close to him told The Source, on Sunday in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital that his travel documents seized by the secret police after they attack his home, have prevented him from doing so.

“But he’s trying to get out of the country through a friendly neighbouring West Africa country, in few days before he’s apprehended by security forces”  one source said.

The ‘Yoruba Nation’s activist has gone underground since July 1 following the invasion of his Soka, Ibadan, Oyo state residence by operatives of Department of State Services, DSS who have also declared him wanted.

But appealing on Igboho’s behalf on Thursday, July 8, the monarch begged President Muhammadu Buhari to forgive him, that the activist is now ready for dialogue. Oba Abdulrasheed said he will lead the activist to Aso Rock, to meet with the president for dialogue at an undisclosed time.

According to him, Igboho had reached out to him to plead on his behalf, a claim that the activist has denied.

Olayomi Koiki, the spokesman for Igboho said the activist did not contact the monarch, adding that reports that Igboho has abandoned the Yoruba nation agitation is false.

Koiki told the Nation that Igboho did not speak with the traditional rulers “Not at any time, not even a single call,” to him.

“The news that Chief Sunday Adeyemo visited the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Akanbi is not true,” he said.

“The 2018 picture was taken during a return visit after he (Oluwo) came to chief’s house.”

Reacting, Oba Akanbi said it’s in the best interest of the activist to enter into dialogue with the federal government, adding that anything contrary could spell doom for him. He said it’s time to give up as he could not fight the authority.

Oba Akanbi urged Igboho not to listen to some elements in the country who.want to lead him to his doom. The choice to give up the fight, the monarch said, is for Igboho to make, adding that he has so much to gain by abandoning his agitation.

The monarch said: “It is only Igboho that can speak for himself now. Nobody can speak for him. If he wants to continue fighting the way he has been fighting, let him go ahead.

“If he wants his normal life back, let him go for peace. It is either he goes for peace or continues with ‘catch me if you can,’ with the DSS. The option is there for Igboho, but I won’t advise him to talk or say a word until peace is made.

“To return his life back to normal is my desire. Anybody that wants to lead the agitation can go ahead. It is Igboho that has something to protect. He has a life. He is our son, we won’t allow something bad to happen to him. He has a name. Sunday Igboho does not deal with some of those people who say they are speaking for him. Why didn’t you ask them when they spoke with Igboho?

“It is unfortunate that the majority of them are pushing him. They will just continue to push him until they kill him. To the extent that the DSS could claim responsibility that they attacked his house. They (DSS), said: ‘We went to Igboho’s house and we killed two people.’

“I think they just want to push him into trouble. Even before the current agitations, he was not poor. He was only misinformed and he has realised this.”

Meanwhile, the magazine learnt that the activist has been making frantic efforts to leave the country after the DSS declared him a fugitive.