Challenges Facing Yoruba Would Be Addressed If Invasion Was Successful – Agitators
Some arrested Yoruba Nation agitators on Monday, revealed that had the invasion of Oyo State Governor’s Office and the state House of Assembly successful, their leaders promised to address all challenges Yoruba are facing.
One of the agitators, a 55-year-old lecturer at the Federal College of Education (Special), in Oyo State, Alabi Ogundeji, declared that he doesn’t regret his action, insisting that their actions were lawful under Nigeria and international law.
Corroborating his view, a 29-year-old phone repairer, Ademola Adeniyi, who was part of the arrested agitators, also said he didn’t regret joining the struggle.
The duo made the revelation while speaking with newsmen at the state Police Command, Eleyele in Ibadan, the state capital, during their parade by the police.
OSUN DEFENDER reports that about 20 persons were arrested by the police after some masked men in military camouflage with rifles and charms suspected to be Yoruba Nation agitators early Saturday invaded the Governor’s Office and the state House of Assembly.
Ogundeji said, “I’m part of the agitation and I can’t deny it. Yoruba as an indigenous nation is a nation on its own. We have so many nations in Nigeria and Yoruba is one of them.
“Oodua Nation leaders have taken every step and action that needed to be taken. So, we embarked on a referendum which was 500 petitions signed by all Yorubas, and this has served as the referendum.
“Our leadership went to all Yoruba-speaking states to serve official letters written by our leaders and we were given our copy. After that is proclamation, declaration, occupation, and notification to the world that Yoruba is an indigenous nation.
“We were at the Secretariat, Agodi in Ibadan to celebrate and rejoice because of the new nation that was born. It is not a new thing that Yoruba is a nation and we want to stand on our own. We have been together with Nigeria for over 100 years.
In his own, the 29-year-old phone repairer, Adeniyi, also amongst those arrested said, “We all know that nothing is working in Nigeria and things are hard for everyone except those in government. We were at the Secretariat waiting for our leader to address us.
“We believe our leader knows much about the law. So, we are not afraid to join when we are called upon. Our leader told us that all challenges Yoruba are facing shall be addressed if we achieve our aim,” he stressed.
While parading all the suspects, the state Police Commissioner, Hamzat Adebola, described the act as criminal, unpatriotic, and a clear case of treasonable felony and terrorism which would be meted with adequate sanctions.
He explained that the continued existence of Nigeria as a sovereign indivisible entity is a task that must be accomplished, adding that “the labour of our heroes past shall never be in vain.”
“As a parent, I enjoin other parents, guardians, and leaders in every sphere of political, religious, and socio-economic influence to prevail on their children, ward, protégés, and followers against being used by unpatriotic individuals to promote anarchy in the state and by extension, Nation.
“I would like to use this medium to remind the criminally minded that the state is home to many responsible, hospitable, and extremely intelligent individuals who pride themselves on creativity, hard work, and resourcefulness.”
He, therefore, vowed that it would not be reduced under his watch to a playground for the criminally minded and misguided individuals or groups who intend to make their livelihood by distorting the relative tranquillity enjoyed by the good people of the state.
Hafsoh Isiaq is a graduate of Linguistics. An avid writer committed to creative, high-quality research and news reportage. She has considerable experience in writing and reporting across a variety of platforms including print and online.
