Olayomi Koiki, Sunday Adeyemo’s spokesperson, says that plans have been made for the Yoruba nation activist to return from self-exile after four years.
The Guardian said that the pan-Yoruba socio-political group Afenifere declared yesterday that banditry and kidnapping in the country are caused by sabotage, collusion, territorial expansion, corruption, and the cabal.
Igboho’s aide said that the activist’s planned return was because of the help of important traditional leaders in the South-West, such as the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja; the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi; the Olugbon of Orile Igbon, Oba Francis Alao; and others.
It further said that the Yoruba nation activist might come back to the country at any time and would be fully reintegrated once the presidency gave him permission.
Igboho left Nigeria on July 1, 2021, after a joint team from the Department of State Security (DSS) and the Nigerian Army invaded his home in Ibadan because they thought he was stockpiling weapons and ammunition. Three of his assistants died during the event, and 13 others were taken into custody.
But the statement hinted that Igboho, during a visit to the Olugbon palace in Orile Igbon, which is in the Surulere Local Council of Oyo State, in 2025, complained that he was tired of being in exile and asked the federal government led by President Bola Tinubu to take his name off the wanted list.
The statement said that the late Muhammadu Buhari’s last government had proclaimed the activist wanted, stopped him from using a Nigerian passport, and frozen his bank accounts, even though the courts had ruled in his favor.
Afenifere National Publicity Secretary Jare Ajayi said in a statement that attempts made over the years to stop various wrongdoings in Nigeria had been unsuccessful “because powerful people among those who are supposed to make the efforts bear fruit are the very ones sabotaging such efforts.”
He claimed that these kinds of things were why the government’s plans and efforts kept failing.
“Whether it’s electricity, water, energy, education, agriculture, the economy, or now security, the reason why governments’ plans in these areas seem to be failing is because some powerful groups are corrupt and work against efforts to clean up the system and improve people’s lives.”
Kidnapping, livestock rustling, banditry that is almost genocidal, and territorial expansion have all grown very common in the last few years. These cruel actions were only happening in the North-East and North-West sections of Nigeria, but now they have moved to other areas.
A lot of individuals have already been kidnapped and several have died in Yorubaland, which used to be rather safe.
The statement says, “Afenifere, like many other well-meaning people, is very worried about this threat.” Even at the best of times, it’s hard for a person to make ends meet. Before you think about what to do to keep life going, the first thing to think about is safety. This is why we, Afenifere, continually bringing the problems to the attention of people who can help discover a solution that works and lasts.
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