The Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams, on Thursday, condemned the attack on the house of Yoruba Nation agitator, Chief Sunday popularly known as Sunday Igboho.
The Nation reports some gunmen allegedly attacked Igboho’s residence, in the early hours of Thursday.
Igboho’s vehicles, including his G-wagon, Prado Jeep, and some properties including furniture, and windows were reportedly destroyed.
In a statement, Adams said that the attack was a ploy to silence Igboho from expressing his views on the state of the nation.
“The attack on Sunday Igboho’s house is most unfortunate. It is a reflection of the fact that our lives as Nigerians are of no value to the government. And the truth is that nobody is safe in this country
“The recent attack was the second in six months. The first was in January when his Soka residence was razed by unknown arsonists. And up till date, nobody had been apprehended in respect of the ugly incident.
“Those agitating for Yoruba nation have been the targets of this administration and the two attempts at Igboho’s houses within six months cannot be said to be ordinary. They were ploys to cow him and frustrate him.
“We cannot continue to live in fear and trepidations. We cannot continue to live in perpetual crisis where our lives and properties are not secured.
“Igboho is being hunted because of his beliefs in the struggle for the liberation of Yoruba race and those behind these two attacks should be warned that any attack on Igboho is an attack on all of us that are in the struggle for the liberation of Yoruba race. It is sad that this government is intolerant of other people’s views.
“Let me say this for emphasis that it is in the interest of the federal government to learn how to manage those agitating. Yoruba are seeking self-determination or devolution of power. These are the two key things we are asking from the Federal Government. So, of the two requests, the FG should be ready to negotiate for one, rather than using force to subdue agitators.
“For instance, the British government didn’t at any time subdue the agitations of Scotland or Ireland. Even in Canada, Quebec settled for a region after seeking self-determination from Canada. It is their legitimate right and such must be protected under the ambit of law.
“As a government, it is your duty and responsibility to change people’s views through better policy implementation and programmes that are in the interest of the mass of the people. Not the other way round.
“The video clip of the attack on Sunday Igboho’s house was a show of death and destruction. About eight people were allegedly killed in the attack, with wanton destruction to his property. The information at my disposal also indicates that the attack was allegedly done by the Nigerian Army in collaboration with foreign terrorists.
“Imagine Igboho was killed in the attack, it might lead to a raging war. Remember the case of Boko Haram leader, Muhammed Yusuff, that was killed in 2009.The death of Yusuff became Nigeria’s nemesis and Boko Haram has created the most challenging problem in Nigeria till today.
“As far as I am concerned, I don’t support anything that negates the law or anybody that disobeys the law, however, the Federal Government should be able to tolerate other people’s view, by taking into consideration, the rights of every citizen as it is in the constitution. This is what makes democracy thrives.”
