Let’s join hands to liberate Yorubas — Sunday Igboho

Oni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (left) and Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi.

Sunday Igboho with journalists

A Yoruba activist and freedom fighter, Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sundy Igboho, has called on all Yoruba leaders including traditional rulers to join hands with him to liberate Yoruba people from their ‘Fulani Oppressors’.

Adeyemo made the call during a virtual town hall meeting monitored by TheCable. Igboho said leaders and monarchs from the South-West are interested in their gains, even though they claimed to represent the Yoruba interest.

The meeting had more than 1000 participants from Nigeria and the diaspora.

Igboho, who joined in at 12:16am, said he came to Oyo to see the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, for a meeting.  

According to him, the fight to liberate the Yoruba and bring lasting peace to the land is not for the police, but for all Yoruba people, irrespective of where they are all over the world.

He said: “I am not concerned about the police. The struggle is about the Yoruba agenda as it concerns the security situation in our land and I trust the Yoruba people for support. People are afraid because of the atrocities of the herders. We also pray that our leaders will support us irrespective of their fear of being arrested. They should be able to tell President Muhammadu Buhari the truth on security situation in Yoruba land.

“When Ooni visited Buhari, the president received him by standing up but he said something I don’t like. That is why the Alaafin called me. He wants to tackle what Ooni said.

According to Igboho, the monarch (Oni) failed to convey the pains and displeasure of the Yoruba people to the President during the visit.

Oba Ogunwusi after meeting the President, however, urged Igboho not to take laws into his hands. The monarch had said though Igboho has done well to speak for the downtrodden, it was time he allowed the constituted authorities including the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, to take charge and handle the security challenges in the state. But the activist said some politicians were behind Ooni’s latest move, adding that the monarch disappointed the Yoruba people by not speaking against the killer herdsmen in the region when he met with the President.

Igboho who started the struggle after several kidnappings, killings, rappings, abductions etc pervaded the Yoruba land, by alleged Fulani herdsmen, without checking-mating, issued a seven-day ultimatum to herders in Ibarapa council area of Oyo State, blaming them for kidnapping, killings, destruction of farmland and insecurity in the state.

After confronting the herders in Ibarapa with some youths in the area at the expiration of the ultimatum, he moved to Ogun State on Monday with determination to continue spreading his Freedom Gospel to all the nooks and cranes pf South-West region, in order to free Yorubas from oppressors. Igboho was received by thousands of youths in Ogun State, which led to the burning of the herders settlement in Egua, Yewa area of Ogun State.

When asked about his sponsors, he said: I have not collected any money from anyone. I am a full Yoruba man and I will not allow Fulani people to enslave me, we do not look or behave alike in any way. The herders should go.”

Igboho said he has not received financial support from anyone, adding that he needs buses to transport his followers to places where the herders are wreaking havoc.

His words: “I need buses to transport people. The three vans we use are bought by me. We lost three buses that were hired on our way to Oyo. Ooni should be able to tell Buhari about what Yoruba wants. He called me but I don’t want to see him. Only Alaafin is supporting us and he has written a letter to the president.”

The youth leader also criticised Abdulrasheed Akanbi, the Oluwo of Iwo, for calling himself an Emir noting that some Yoruba leaders have turned themselves into slaves of the ethnic tribe that oppresses their people because of money.

“The Oluwo will wear a turban and start calling himself an Emir, our people should call him and tell him to stop what he is doing. Our leaders are lazy and turning themselves to Fulani's slaves. They visit Abuja to collect money; we will attack them and destroy their property.  We need not to be afraid.

Health benefit of Soybeans, Fish — Nutritionist

A PROFESSOR of Fish Nutrition at the Department of Marine Sciences, University of Lagos, Prof. Adewolu Morenike, has urged Nigerians to regularly consume soybeans and fish to improve their diet, lower the risk of non-communicable diseases, as well as help to maintain the body’s defence against infections.

Adewolu said the benefits of the combination of soybeans and fish were often understated, whereas they contain numerous vitamins and minerals, which are of benefits to the human body and mind.

She described the combination of soybeans with fish as a superfood that can lower the risk of diabetes, heart diseases, stroke and obesity.  

Adewolu said: “Soybean is an excellent source of protein, and it contains fundamental nutrients needed by the human body to function optimally.

“Soybeans are low in carbohydrates and have a very low glycemic index (GI), which is a measure of how foods affect the rise in blood sugar after a meal. Soybeans are good sources of several vitamins and minerals, including vitamin K1, vitamins B1-B6, folates, copper, manganese, potassium, phosphorus, and thiamine. They are a rich source of various bioactive plant compounds, including isoflavones, saponins, and lunasin.

“This helps blood flow to the brain and improves its performance during mental tasks. Fish are rich in Vitamin A, which can fight free radicals and reduce oxidative stress.  

“As long as fishes are included in our diet, be it tilapia, codfish (panla), scumbia, crabs, crayfish, or any type of fish at all, our immune system will be immediately boosted because fishes contain vitamin B12 (cobalamin) and selenium, which are critical in the formation of macrophage cells, which patrol the bloodstreams for harmful bacteria.”