…charges FG to tread with caution over activist
…wants S/West govs to protect him
A sociocultural group in Oyo State, The Landmark Group Igboho, has charged the Federal Government to stop hunting or trying to victimise and dehumanise Chief Sunday Adeyemo popularly known as Sunday Igboho.
It noted that Igboho was a phenomenon that rose at the appropriate time to fill the void left by the inactivity of the government on security.
The group added that rather than attempting to paint Sunday Igboho as the enemy of the state, the government should look at the root cause of the problems.
The group equally sent an SOS to the Oyo State governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde and the governors of the South-West States, urging them to rise and protect Igboho from the ire of the Federal Government.
In a statement released on Monday and made available to newsmen, the group said it supported the resolution of the Southern Governors that security operations in a state should be in consultation with the Governor of the state.
It, however, called on the Governors to take a step further by wading into the unnecessary harassment being meted to a proud son of Yorubaland, who rose in defence of his fatherland when the Federal Government-backed security agencies appeared to have slacked in performing their duties.
The statement read in part: “We join many patriotic Nigerians to condemn the gestapo style invasion of the house of our brother, Sunday Adeyemo Igboho, the killing of his two aides and the arrest and continued detention of others.
“This action, carried out in a state without consulting the Governor, is capable of threatening the fragile peace the nation is experiencing and compounding the insecurity situation in the land.
“It’s astonishing that the charges against our brother are neither of killing, kidnapping or abduction which are the thriving businesses in Nigeria today and need the concerted efforts of the government working with the state and local government. However, with the kind of treatment and selective manhunt for our brother, such collaborative efforts may be an exercise in futility.
“In a nation where bandits are in photo ops with some governors and Boko Haram members are being given amnesty, is it a crime to defend your people against invasion?
“This, we believe, is the sin of our brother, Sunday Igboho. All other issues are being joined to raise unnecessary sentiments.
“We, therefore, call on Governor Seyi Makinde who is the chief security officer of Oyo State, and indeed, governors of the South-West States, to ensure the safety of our brother against victimization.
“We equally call on the Federal Government and President Muhammadu Buhari to exercise restraint and stop the manhunt for our brother. He is only fighting for justice and equity for his people and, as such, should not be treated as a criminal.
“We also demand the immediate release of all his aides in DSS custody.
“We believe that for the unity of this country to be sustained, it is better to jaw jaw than war war.”
