Oluwo of Iwo, Ọba AbdulRasheed Adewale Akanbi, has revealed why Yoruba Monarchs have remained silent over the last Thursday’s midnight raid by the Department of State Services (DSS) on the residence of the Yoruba nation activist, Sunday Igboho.
VAM News had reported that the DSS invaded the residence of Igboho in a Gestapo style around 1 am on Thursday, July 1.
Though Igboho had escaped the raid, his house and cars were riddled with bullets while bloodstains splattered over the floors of the house. The DSS also said it killed two of his associates in a gun duel. Thirteen of Igboho’s guards and close associates were later paraded in Abuja on Thursday evening, July 1.
The secret police had since declared Igboho wanted. The activist is being accused of stockpiling weapons to allegedly destabilise the country under the guise of agitation for Yoruba nation but he has since denied the allegation, saying he protects himself with charms and not weapons.
Presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, on Tuesday, July 6, lauded the raid. He said Igboho is a militant who conducts acts of terror, adding that the regime won’t condone any act by secessionists.
But Oluwo of Iwo, Ọba AbdulRasheed Adewale Akanbi, has revealed that Igboho ignored some of their warnings by Yoruba monarchs.
Speaking during an interview with BBC Yoruba, Akanbi said many of the monarchs were in support of Igboho’s agitation against killer herdsmen but have chosen to be silent because Igboho ignored some of their warnings, this he said led to their silence over the raid carried out in his home.
Oluwo noted that Igboho was cautioned about the manner he was agitating for Yoruba Nation but he failed to adjust.
He said the fight for the Yoruba Nation will be more productive with the inputs of the traditional rulers.
“He had abused some respected traditional rulers who could easily defend him against external attacks.
“They forgot that the king superintends over everything and government has a duty to secure its citizens.
“The government cannot fold its hands again and allow a repeat of what happened during #EndSARS.
“We must be diplomatic with our demands. We cannot get our demand by fighting the government. Instead, we can negotiate and dialogue with the government,” he said.
