Elder statesman and leader of pan-Yoruba group, Afenifere, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, says Yoruba agitator for self determination, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, would have been killed within 24 hours if he had surrendered himself to the Department of State Services (DSS) after he was declared wanted.
He said agents of the Nigerian Government are in the trail of anyone with links to Igboho for possible arrest and prosecution without a justifiable reason.
Fielding questions on the Arise TV programme, ‘Morning Show’ on Thursday, the 93-year-old Adebanjo, a leading advocate for Nigeria’s restructuring, raised the alarm that his life was in danger, but declared his readiness to die for a just cause.
With his nose literarily belching fire, the nonagenarian says President Muhammadu Buhari has turned a tyrant just as he lamented that the masses have become helpless.
Pa Adebanjo however expressed his conviction that God is in control, and would act at the appropriate time.
“What can we do under a dictatorship? What can we do? If you say you want to render support to Igboho, they will trace your account and then they close it. You know that. What did they do to the supporters of #ENDSARS? We are in an abnormal country where people are afraid to come out and speak the truth.
Even what I am saying now, it’s only people of my age who are prepared to die at any moment. People cannot talk because their lives are not safe; they are tracing anybody who has connection with Igboho, people who are talking to him to go and arrest them. They are passing all laws that are anti-democracy. Whatever Buhari does with his government, whatever propaganda, God is in control. It’s only when God will come to judgment that I don’t know”, Adebanjo remarked.
Excerpts of the interview:
Ban on open grazing
“When the governor of a state said herdsmen should leave the forest, that they were disturbing the peace of the state, the AGF (Attorney General of the Federation) compared that to people who are doing legitimate business in the North, who are selling spare parts.
And I said well, if the people who are selling spare parts kidnap your people, murder them, deprive them of their farms, send them back. We are all living witnesses in this country; that is the background, he didn’t just wake up and say go away.
When you talk of a reaction, you must always talk of the action that causes the reaction. It is the inability of Buhari’s government to protect lives and property in Ighoho’s territory that caused Igboho to come to self help which is constitutionally legitimate.
Yet, the people continue to commit havoc in Yoruba land and you want us to keep quite.
Igboho’s Extradition from Benin Republic
There is no sense in that extradition move; I have given you the insight, Igboho is a political refugee. He didn’t commit any crime here; he didn’t kill anybody, he didn’t run away from anybody after committing a crime. He left because the powers that be want to kill him because he is leading a popular revolt. When they see the crowd that Igboho pulls at every meeting, that’s what is terrifying them.
I don’t support secession; that is not my goal. I have fought for the unity of this country when Buhari was still in primary school. I am interested in one Nigeria, until Buhari came with this fraudulent constitution and he wants us to keep quiet; we will not keep quiet.
Look at how they invaded Igboho’s house at midnight, trampling on his fundamental rights without a warrant; you went there to kill, maim, all because he wanted freedom for his people. Is that right in a democracy? Is that right in a civilized society? The whole world is looking at us, laughing at us.
Buhari now a tyrant
The government is exposing us unfairly to the DSS as if we are living in an ancient world. Only God will save us from Buhari, because nobody can talk to him. His colleagues in the Army can’t talk to him; the emirs can’t talk to him because he is too powerful; he has all the architecture of security in his hands.
For Igboho to report to state security under Buhari, he will be killed before 24 hours. You are looking for somebody’s life and you ask him to come and surrender himself.
I will call up my God to deal with Buhari because we are helpless, he has all the power. As I am talking now, I have told people that my life is not safe, but I am ready at 93, what do I want? But I will fight for the cause that I believe in since the days I was a young man.
Unfortunately, all our friends; the Fulani who we know that we have nothing against them but for the activities of Buhari, they are all not talking; If you have business and you talk, they close down your business.
God is there, and he will come to our aid at the right time. Buhari may think we are helpless now, but God is there; God is there for those who are helpless”.
