- Safiu Kehinde
Self-acclaimed Yoruba ethnic advocate, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has accused Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, of preventing him from joining the rescue operation for the school teachers and students abducted at Ahoro Esinele and Yawota communities in Oriire Local Government Area of the state.
Igboho alleged that Makinde refused to grant him permission despite possession capacity to confront the kidnappers.
The former Yoruba Nation agitator made the allegationon Wednesday while receiving the newly elected executive members of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), led by Akinteye Bàbàtunde, at his residence in the Soka area of Ibadan.
Igboho in his address also refuted allegations that he demanded money from the Oyo state governor before the joining the search party.
He alleged being discouraged by the state government, which warned that his attempt to intervene could endanger the lives of the victims.
According to him, the kidnappers allegedly threatened to kill the hostages if join the search party.
“I’m not asking for money, Governor Seyi Makinde knows I have the capacity to rescue the Oriire kidnapped victims, why hasn’t he granted me permission?
He said we should exercise patience that if we go with force, it will be disastrous. We accepted but till when?” He asked.
Igboho further alleged that certain political actors are orchestrating the wave of kidnappings as part of a broader agenda to destabilise the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
“If I am permitted to storm their hideouts, they will flee. They are humans and can be dislodged. I know the politicians behind them, and if they do not desist, I will expose them. They are the ones supplying weapons and funds,” he said.
Igboho also disclosed that while he had secured federal approval for his security outfit, “Iru Ekun,” the Oyo State Government restricted its operations within the state.
“I established ‘Iru Ekun’ Security Network with FG approval, but state government disapproved.
“The state government said not security outfit must take any action without them.
“They said I’m tackling the government. We all know what I passed through about five years ago.
“I don’t have children in Nigeria that no one can kidnap, but those who don’t have people to secure them, why don’t you permit us to enter the bush with them and fight?
“For someone should be coming from Ibadan to Lagos with or Ibadan to Ekiti with fear.” He said.
Igboho reiterated that state government is allegedly playing politics with the kidnap victims while challenging those condemning the Tinubu-led administration of the country’s challenges.
“I know these game they are playing. It is all politics. And we need to cooperate. This stick is bad, we removed it. That one is bad, we remove it. It won’t allow the soup to be done on time.
“Since when we’ve be lamenting that the country is bad, has it ever been good?
“Was Buhari’s administration good? He met Dollar in N160. He left it at N900. He met fuel at N60, he left it at about N700 Naira.” Igboho said.
Questioning the motives behind the rising insecurity, he argued that similar tactics were used to undermine previous administrations.