Sunday Igboho not legitimate freedom fighter – Ibadan chief

A new twist was on Friday added to the debate over Oduduwa Republic as a prominent Ibadan Chief, Dr. Mufutau Adeniyi Adebowale described the champion of South-West secession agenda, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, as fake.

He said the course being pursued by Igboho was not in the interest of the Yoruba race but that of Oke Ogun, a major political division in Oyo State.

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Adebowale, who is the Mogaji of Arinoje, Adeoyo, Ibadan, was in the Lagos office of Daily Trust on Friday where he insisted that Sunday Igboho hid under the pretext of waging war against herders allegedly terrorizing his people to pursue “Oke Ogun Agenda.”

The ultimate aim of this, according to him, is to bring down the government of Seyi Makinde who is an Ibadan indigene.

He said the plot is to position the Deputy Governor, Mr. Rauf Olaniyan, his Uncle (Igboho’s) as the next governor.

“Sunday Igboho is fake. He is not a legitimate Yoruba freedom fighter. He is actualizing the Oke Ogun agenda…,” he said.

According to him, the agitation for Oduduwa Republic is part of the agenda against Ibadan land.

“One important fact that people do not know is that Sunday Igboho is related to Deputy to Governor Seyi Makinde. For almost two years, they have allocated some armed security escort to Sunday Igboho. The reason for that is not known. They are carrying Alaafin of Oyo over and above all other Obas in Yoruba land. This is not acceptable to Ibadan indigenes.

“The most unfortunate thing is that when Oke Ogun people are united in their fight for Ibadan Governor, Ibadan politicians are also giving the Governor problems. They are not sensitive to his predicament at all. They are only fighting for power. They want to hold appointment as chairman of Oodua Company Limited,” he added.

Experts comment

The security expert said the herdsmen’s crisis is not only in Ibadan but a national security threat, suggesting that the establishment of Special Police Constabulary Police which the Lagos State Government has adopted would address all crimes and criminalities across the country.

“The most effective police system that can finally eradicate cases of crime in Nigeria is adoption of Special Constabulary Police by the State Governments.

“Kidnappers, fraudsters and the likes have no special domain. They are mixed with the people everywhere. As a result, people cannot leave security issues with the regular system of going to police stations to report them and invite the police. People see reporting to the police as dangerous.

“The solution is Special Constabulary Police where part time (and full time) policemen and women are recruited within the locality and they are to work within their locality or within their state.

“School teachers, barbers, pastors, Nurses, Hoteliers who understand their own locality well and are able to identify the hideout of criminals are to join SCP as part-time Police,” he stated.