Sunday Igboho: 'I am Not Nnamdi Kanu'

Popular rights activist, Sunday Adeyemi, popularly known as Sunday Igboho has dismissed being likened to the Biafra Republic advocate, Nnamdi Kanu.

The activist made this known during an interview session with The Punch on Sunday. When he was asked to respond to some persons who likened him with Kanu of the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB), who is agitating for a breakaway from Nigeria and the realization of Biafra, Igboho said he was not Kanu and he did not have the same agenda with him.

However, he posited that Kanu was not carrying his people along in his agitation, thus, he said, “I am not Kanu and I am not like Kanu. Kanu is working on his agenda; perhaps, he doesn’t carry his people along. This is about the Yoruba people being killed, raped, extorted, oppressed and dehumanised in their own land. What we want is justice, peace, harmony and good governance.”

The rights fighter answered a series of questions ranging from his relationship with the Oyo state governor and the traditional rulers in the southwest region to his future political ambition, and the Yoruba in the diaspora as well as the historical war between the Fulani and the Yoruba people.

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Talking about the current N11 million that was being raised by the Yoruba people in diaspora for the activist to achieve his mission, he said, “I don’t need such and there is nothing like that.”

On his relationship with Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, he said, “We can work in harmony with the governor inasmuch as he recognises the fact that we have the fundamental right to secure our people and to protect their interest. The problem is that those in between us and the government are the ones creating undue tension. We are sure that the governor is able to feel the pulse of the people who are feeling the heat from the killer herdsmen and we believe that he would rise up to the occasion and do the needful.”

On the ethnic tension that his activities were alleged to have created, Igboho said, “Actually, there is no more fear of civil war regarding the cause that I am fighting. Those who thought that such could happen had the fear because they have hidden agenda. We are not waging any war against Fulani people. Our own fear is that our leaders are friends of the Fulani, who know the herdsmen, who are criminals in our midst. Our appeal to the Fulani is to bring the killer herders in our midst to book.”

On his relationship with the traditional rulers in the Southwest, he said, “Our Obas are the custodians of our culture and heritage in Yorubaland. Today, our Kabiyesis across Yorubaland up to Kwara and Kogi states, as well as Edo and Delta states, should speak with one voice. As things stand, I thank our royal fathers for their efforts. I thank all the Yoruba Obas starting from the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona; I thank our father, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, and also thanks to our father, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi. I must pay obeisance to the Awujale for his fearless and dogged spirit and courage. He wants peace, he wants justice, he stands for the truth and I pray that the Lord keep him stronger than yesterday. The Aare Ona Kakanfo, Iba Gani Adams, has also thrown his weight behind this cause.”

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He reminded the Yoruba people that the first Old Oyo empire was brought down by the Fulani as well as the second Oyo empire in Igboho, Oyo as he called for unity among the Yoruba people.

The activist said, “Yoruba people should be united and stop playing politics with the lives of our people. We deserve to be united, so I preach unity of purpose among the Yoruba people. Our royal fathers, politicians, the youth and the elders should speak with one voice. There should not be dispute or discord in Yorubaland. I appeal to all units to speak with one voice. Our Kabiyesis should speak with one voice, likewise the politicians. They should remember history; our leaders should remember that the first Oyo Empire was mowed down by this same set of people. The second Oyo Empire at Igboho Oyo was equally destroyed by the same people. This time, our people must be protected by all Yoruba people.”