By Funso Alarape
Monday April 15, 2024
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Oyo State Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, has described Saturday’s invasion of the state secretariat by self-acclaimed Yoruba nation agitators as treasonable.
The commissioner disclosed this while granting interviews to journalists in Ibadan, the state capital, on Monday.
Prince Oyelade, who condemned the act, said there were better ways of agitation, other than craving for bloodshed.
He cited the conduct of Professor Banji Akintoye, a well-known Yoruba nation agitator, as representing “the quintessential wisdom and civilisation of the Yoruba race.”
“Attempting to barge into the hallowed chambers of legislature and take it over with an arsenal of seven pump action submachine guns and over 700 live cartridges is clearly an act of terrorism,” he said.
Recall that last Saturday the Yoruba Nation agitators invaded the Oyo State Government Secretariat, Agodi in Ibadan, the state capital.
The masked men were stationed at different locations within the area.
This situation, according to investigation, sent panic to the residents and road users along the routes.
Businesses and residents around Bodija, Ikolaba, and Awolowo were said to have quickly locked their shops and doors as some who were about to open for the day’s business turned back.
It was further learnt that the security operatives on duty at the secretariat were shocked as they were unable to disperse the agitators until the arrival of policemen from the state command and other anti-crime agencies in conjunction with members of the Nigerian Army, 2 Division, who demobilised them.
Operatives of the state security network codenamed Amotekun were also said to have been on the ground.
Motorists plying the route
made a detour as many other road users scampered to safety.
Road users en route Secretariat were diverted along Customs Junction as the Secretariat-Queen Elizabeth Road had been cut off traffic.
Speaking further, Oyelade said that sponsors of Saturday’s invasion of the Governor’s Office and the state House of Assembly had succeeded in leading them into serious trouble.
Oyelade reiterated that Oyo State remained the most peaceful state in Nigeria and that Saturday’s incident would not take away that popular belief.
The commissioner noted that normalcy had since returned to Ibadan, the state capital, and residents were going about their normal duties.
Sunday Igboho, Akintoye react To Agitators’ Invasion
Meanwhile, leading activists of the Yoruba Nation, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, and the former leader of Ilana Omo Oodua, Professor Banji Akintoye, have distanced themselves from the agitators’ invasion of the Oyo State Government Secretariat on Saturday.
Igboho, speaking through his media aide, Olayemi Koiki, in a Facebook Live, said he was unaware of the invasion, stating that all rallies are usually announced beforehand.
He added that those involved in the invasion are not part of Yoruba Nation.
He said, “I know nothing about it and I don’t know those behind it. If we want to organise a rally or any Yoruba Nation activity, we usually make an announcement beforehand.
“Any person that said he is agitating for Yoruba Nation and is going to attack government facilities, that person or group is on his own; I don’t know anything about it.”
Confirming Igboho’s claims, Akintoye alleged that another separatist leader, Abiola Onitiri, was behind the incident in Oyo state.
He said, “I have spoken to Sunday Igboho. Some people sent them to make sure that they disrupt the Yoruba self-determination struggle.
“I was informed a few minutes ago that some people who said they are followers of Onitiri have come to take over the government of Yorubaland, and that they have arrived in Ibadan. We in this struggle don’t act in that manner.”
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