Akintoye also thanked God and the government of Benin Republic for not denying Igboho justice
By Kehinde Okeowo
Professor Banji Akintoye, leader of Ilana Omo Oodua, a socio-cultural group has said President Bola Tinubu played no part in the release of self-acclaimed Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemi, popularly known as Igboho from custody in Benin Republic.
He made the clarification after Ohanaeze Ndigbo pointed to the recent release of Igboho as a basis for the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu to regain his freedom.
Ohanaeze had urged President Tinubu to order that all charges against Kanu be withdrawn following Igboho’s release.
However, reacting to the call in a statement titled: “President Tinubu had no hands in Sunday Igboho’s freedom,” Akintoye corrected the impression that the Nigerian president facilitated ighoho’s release from detention.
He went on to thank God and the government of Benin Republic for not denying Igboho justice.
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The leader of the Yoruba socio-cultural group also hoped for a quicker release of Kanu, whom he labelled a “brother” from Nigeria’s incarceration.
The statement reads: “This is imperative in order to correct the wrong impression in some quarters that President Bola Tinubu facilitated the freedom of Chief Sunday Adeyemo in Cotonou last week Sunday.
“Although we will not fault our Igbo brothers, nor criticise them for seeking the freedom for the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu in any way.
“However, we must set the record straight. The Nigerian authorities and administration under the presidency of Bola Tinubu have got no hands in the release and total freedom of our frontliner, Chief Sunday Adeyemo a.k.a Igboho.
“We give the credit to the Almighty God, then the efforts of our leadership in this Yoruba nation struggle supported by well-meaning friends at home and abroad. This had been a tedious and tasking process, but we give glory to God that granted us success in Sunday’s freedom at last.
“We strongly deny the involvement of any politician or officials of the Nigerian government in all these processes, for simply there was none. Our appreciation again goes to the Republic of Benin government for not denying us justice at last, despite some political pressures.
“And we wish our Igbo brother Mazi Nnamdi Kanu a quicker release from the Nigeria incarceration.”