Nobody can stop Yoruba Nation — Prof Banji Akintoye, Sunday Igboho

*Say Saturday July 3 rally in Lagos'll hold

*Add we're not coming to cause trouble, but awareness about Oduduwa Republic

*Want UN, US, UK, ECOWAS, others to attend as observers

Prof. Banji Akintoye, Sunday Igboho and other agitator.

LEADER of Ilana Omo Oodua, IOO, Professor Banji Akintoye, and leader of Yoruba nation agitators, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, have endorsed the July 3rd Mega Rally scheduled to hold in Lagos, in support of the actualisation of Yoruba Nation (Oduduwa Republic), adding that nobody can stop the rally.

The Yoruba Nation agitations have held peaceful rallies in Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ekiti and Ondo states, clamouring for the emergence of Yoruba Nation from the Republic of Nigeria.  

In a statement by its General Secretary and Media Communications Secretary, Messrs George Akinola and Maxwell Adeleye, the IOO has invited the United Nations, UN; European Union, EUP; African Union, AU; Economic Community for West African States, ECOWAS, and the governments of the United States and the United Kingdom to observe the rally.

The statement read: “Ilana Omo Oodua and its associates have concluded arrangements to hold the Lagos State version of the Yoruba Nation mega rallies on Saturday, July 03, 2021

“It promises to be a blast as we finally sink the ill-fated amalgamation in the Atlantic ocean, welcome to the shining glory of the black race.

“The Lagos rally will be one of the super rally storms that have been blowing gracefully and peacefully all over Yorubaland and all Yoruba sons and daughters are encouraged to come out and stamp their unequivocal authority on the land. We own this space.

“We are on the last leg to liberation. And as usual, this rally will be peaceful, well-coordinated and orderly. It was peaceful at Ibadan, well-conducted at Abeokuta, super orderly at Oshogbo, fantastically coordinated at Akure and epochal at Ado-Ekiti.  

“The Nigeria Police cooperated well with us in all these places. We do not expect it to be different in Lagos. Be a witness to history.”

Prof. Banji Akintoye (left) and Sunday Igboho.

We're coming  to Lagos with peaceful awareness — Sunday Igboho

Likewise, Sunday Igboho, in a statement by one of his aides, Onaolapo Ademola, said nothing would restrain him from embarking on the rally or change its date.

The statement reads: “Nobody has said Igboho should not come to Lagos. I’m a true son of the soil. Lagos is a Yoruba land and does not belong to the Hausas or any other tribe, so let us focus on the current struggle and don’t let us dwell on rumours.

“Although in rumours, there are some elements of truth, we are optimistic. Lagos is a Yoruba land and the majority of those in Lagos are Yoruba and the way Yoruba are suffering, many are not satisfied.

“We are not scared of anybody. We have done peaceful rallies across other southwest states and we are just creating awareness. We are not coming to Lagos to create crises or cause trouble. We are peaceful.

“Those thinking we won’t hold the rally in Lagos are deceiving themselves; we call on the Lagos State Government to provide security operatives to protect the agitators on the said date. Lagosians are ready to receive us peacefully on July 3; we are coming with a peaceful awareness too.”

Others agitators set for Lagos rally

Organisers of the Lagos rally said that preparations were in top gear for the grand-finale as various groups were being mobilised to participate.

It was gathered that many Yoruba leaders and groups are working behind the scenes to garner support for the Lagos rally but they would rather not do it openly.

A member of the socio-political groups in the region said that it has been mobilising other groups in Lagos to participate in the rally.

The source, who spoke anonymously, said: “But we are collaborating with Sunday Igboho even if not on the surface.

“A lot of work has gone towards mobilising people and groups for the rally. “The rally will go as planned. Even the APC machinery originally opposed to the rally has not been hostile anymore. Some members of the Oodua People’s Congress, OPC, have also been part of the mobilization for the rally. So, as it is, the rally is in top gear.”

Lagos is the last of the six South-West states to host the self-determination rally. The Lagos rally will be the grand finale of the event designed to draw attention to the perceived marginalization of the South-West geo-political zone in the polity and the need to restructure. 

Yoruba Elders warn against mayhem

Meanwhile, Yoruba Elders are warning against the rally being hijacked by hoodlums to wreak havoc.

They cited the case of the #ENDSARS protests of last year which left the former Federal Capital burning after hoodlums hijacked the peaceful demonstrations to call attention to police brutality in the country.

While maintaining that peaceful rally is a fundamental right of the people, the Senior Elders Forum of the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) has cautioned Sunday Igboho and other agitators to ensure that the Lagos rally is not hijacked by hoodlums.

Speaking on behalf of the Forum, Dansaaki Adeleye Agbede, a former National Chairman of YCE, said Sunday Igboho should know that he is being closely monitored by security agents and he should not do anything that will give them an opportunity to have something to hold him.

Agbede, a retired military officer, said the Yoruba activist should take a cue from what happened during the #EndSARS protests which hoodlums hijacked.

“In as much as rally is part of the fundamental rights of the people, it shouldn’t be an avenue to disturb the peace of other people”, the Yoruba Elder said.

“It’s the fundamental right of every Nigerian to demonstrate because they have to be heard.

“But they have to be sure that hoodlums don’t infiltrate them; they have to be very careful.

“Under normal condition, the police have the duty to protect them; be with them to ensure there is no breakdown of law and order. The rally should not cause any mayhem within Lagos metropolis”.

Rumour of Buhari’s death, replacement by Sudanese ridiculous —Obasanjo

Ex-President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo.

FORMER President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has described the rumour about President Muhammadu Buhari being dead and replaced by a certain Jubril from Sudan as ridiculous.

Speaking at a youth mentorship session in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Obasanjo cited the rumour as one of the instances in which social media is being abused. 

Speaking at the session, he recalled how someone asked him if he believes the rumour.

He said: “Somebody came to me, in very high hope, and said, ‘this talk about Buhari not being Buhari… I said, ‘do you believe this?’ He said, ‘well, it is in the social media. I said ‘Buhari died and we will not know that Buhari has died? And they will bring us, somebody, from Sudan to be Buhari?’

“It’s ridiculous to the extreme. But you have it in social media and you see people believing it. Social media have done well, but it can be abused and misused.”

Sanwo-Olu appoints new Governing Council for LASU

GOVERNOR Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, has appointed new Governing Council members for Lagos State University, LASU, Ojo.

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Education, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, the 13-member council will be headed by a former Accountant-General of the State, Mr. David Sunmonu.

Other members of the council are Professor Amuwo Shaffudeen, Anuoluwa Eso, Tolani Sule, Dr. Ifeanyi Odii, Karl Toriola, Adekunle Soname, Mrs. Foluke Abdul-Rasaq, Mrs. Morenike Williams, Adebayo Akinsanya, Mrs. Adenike Fasheun, Mrs. Mojisola Taiwo, and Dr. Hakeem Adetugbobo.

Their appointment, according to Wahab, was based on the consideration of the report of the Special Visitation Panel on the appointment of the 9th Vice-Chancellor, which recommended the dissolution of the previous Governing Council of the university and, by the powers conferred on the governor by the Lagos State University Law, Cap L69 Volume 7, Laws of Lagos State, 2015 (as amended).

The statement added that the date for the formal inauguration of the new Governing Council would be announced later  

With the appointment of new Council members, the process of selecting a new VC for LASU is expected to start soon.