Olufemi Olaniyi and Peter Dada
26 July 2021
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The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, has sent a delegation to Cotonou, Benin Republic, to observe the Monday court proceedings of the case involving Chief Sunday Adeyemo, aka Sunday Igboho.
This was disclosed in a statement on Sunday by the Personal Assistant/Director of Media and Publicity to the Olubadan, Mr Adeola Oloko.
Although the monarch did not reveal the identities of the delegation, he said those to observe the court proceedings would be in court unfailingly on Monday.
Oba Adetunji was quoted to have said this at his Popoyemoja, Ibadan palace on Sunday while exchanging views with some leaders of thought, comprising the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes President General, Prince Yemisi Adeaga, first Vice President General, Dr Tirimisiyu Oladimeji; Ekefa Olubadan, Chief Lekan Alabi; Ajia Olubadan, Chief Wasiu Aderoju Alaadorin; and Mogaji Makusota, Prof. Oluwasegun Adekunle.
According to Olubadan it has become necessary in order to allay the fears of several people that he is not folding his arms over the travails of Sunday Igboho and his co-travellers.
He said, “Sunday Igboho lives in Ibadan, got married in Ibadan, rear children in Ibadan, built houses in Ibadan and as such he has the rights to be protected by Ibadan traditional institution within the ambit of the law just like any human being in Ibadan.”
Oba Adetunji, who said he was in constant touch with Yoruba prominent royal fathers, including Igboho royal crowns, allayed public fears of a repeat performance of Yoruba-Fulani coalition of 1814.
The monarch said students of Nigeria history might wish to be reminded that when some people during the period under reference chose to engage in territorial expansion to the sea, it took the Ibadan army under Balogun Oderinlo to repel the attack and stop the incursion near Osogbo.
Oba Adetunji urged the people to remain calm and law abiding, saying truth will prevail.
Meanwhile, the Bishop of Owo Diocese of the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion, Stephen Fagbemi, has called on the Federal Government to exercise caution in dealing with various agitators across the country but rather focus on the security challenges in the country.
The cleric said the administration of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) appeared to believe only in holding on to power rather than addressing the problem of the country.
This was contained in the charge the bishop read at the 3rd Session of the 13th Synod of the Diocese of Owo, held at the Saint Paul’s Anglican Church, Okeluse in Ose Local Government Area of the state, on Friday
Fagbemi noted that whatever the government of Nigeria is doing with the likes of Sunday Sunday Igboho, Nnamdi Kanu and other agitators, it should bear in mind that they stood for the concerns and interest of millions of Nigerians and therefore they should be handled with caution.
