A 55-year-old lecturer at the Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo, in Oyo State, Alabi Ogundeji, who is one of the arrested Yoruba Nation agitators, Alabi Ogundeji, on Monday, declared that he had no regrets participating in the Saturday invasion of Oyo State Governor’s Office and the House of Assembly.
Also, a 29-year-old phone repairer, Ademola Adeniyi, who was among the arrested agitators, said he had no regret joining the struggle.
Ogundeji and Adebiyi were among the 21 suspected Yoruba Nation agitators the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Hazmat Adebola, paraded on Monday for the invasion of the state Governor’s Office and the House of Assembly.
Adebola, who paraded them at the state Police Headquarters, Eleyele in Ibadan, described the act as criminal, unpatriotic and a clear case of treasonable felony and terrorism which would be meted with adequate sanctions.
The Daily Crucible reports that the Yoruba Nation agitators had on Saturday invaded the Oyo State Secretariat, Agodi in Ibadan.
The hooded invaders in army camouflage with rifles and charms were stationed at different locations within the area, a development that sent panic to the residents and road users along the routes.
Security operatives on duty at the Secretariat attempted to expel the agitators from the area but failed until the arrival of policemen from the state command and other anti-crime agencies, in conjunction with members of the Nigerian Army, 2 Division, who stormed the place and dislodged them.
Those paraded on Monday by the police were Alabi Ogundeji (55); Adeyemo Oluwaseun (29); Adeyemo Peter (75); Amos Ogundeji (45); Ayanwale Rofiayat, female (25); Olaleye Mathew (54); Fatoki Anthony (34); Muritala Abere (40); Adepoju Ismaila (45); Fatunmbi Wasiu; (30); Isaac Friday (27); Ayanwale Saburi (28); Elegbede Adebola (27); Adedamola Deniyi (29); Ojo Olufemi (52); Ajani Ezekiel (42); Adejumo Lateef (60); Ayoola David (40); Adesokan Hammed (38); Salawudeen Wahab (56) and Ademola Adeniyi (29).
The Commissioner of Police listed the exhibits recovered from them as one English pump-action gun, two locally-made guns, two security jackets, 30 pieces of torch lights, five African horse tails, 49 bells, seven pieces of walkie talkies and accessories, four generators, four megaphones, two 12.5kg gas cylinders, six executive chairs, one green coloured Ford vehicle with registration number AGL 04 YG and one Man ‘O’War ID Card belonging to one Muritala Abere.
Others are two ATM cards, two photographs of one Modupe Abiola-Onitiri, four standing fans and one incomplete Ox standing fan, nine pieces of electric gadgets, two pieces of hand gloves, 261 pieces of belts, 12 Yoruba Nation flags, nine pieces of big photo frames, two big flags of Oodua Nation, 405 live cartridges, 72 pairs of camouflage uniforms, 199 pairs of plain green uniform among others.
In separate interviews with newsmen shortly after their parade, the lecturer, Ogundeji, and the phone repairer, Adeniyi, insisted that their actions were lawful under both Nigerian and international laws.
Ogundeji said, “I’m part of the agitation and I can’t deny it. Yoruba as an indigenous nation is a nation on its own. We have so many nations in Nigeria and Yoruba is one of them.
“Oodua Nation leaders have taken every step and action that needed to be taken. So, we have embarked on the referendum, which was 500 petitions signed by all Yoruba, and this has served as a referendum.
“Our leadership went to all Yoruba-speaking states to serve official letters written by our leaders and we were given our copy. After that is the proclamation, followed by the declaration, occupation, and notification to the world that Yoruba is an indigenous nation.
“We were at the Secretariat, Agodi, in Ibadan, to celebrate and rejoice because of the new nation that was birthed. It is not a new thing that Yoruba is a nation and we want to stand on our own. We have been together with Nigeria for over 100 years.”
Justifying his participation, Adeniyi said, “We all know that nothing is working in Nigeria and things are hard for everyone, except those in government. We were at the Secretariat waiting for our leader to address us.
“We believe our leader knows much about the law. So, we are not afraid to join when we’re called upon. Our leader told us that all challenges Yoruba are facing shall be addressed if we achieve our aim.”
But the Commissioner of Police, Hamzat Adebola, described the act as criminal, unpatriotic and a clear case of treasonable felony and terrorism, which would be meted with adequate sanctions.
He noted that the continued existence of Nigeria as a sovereign indivisible entity was a task that must be done, declaring that “The labour of our heroes past shall never be in vain.”
Adebola said, “As a parent, I enjoin other parents, guardians and leaders in every sphere of political, religious and socioeconomic influence to prevail on their children, wards, protégés and followers against being used by unpatriotic individuals to promote anarchy in the state and, by extension, the nation.
“I would like to use this medium to remind the criminally-minded that the state is home to many responsible, hospitable and extremely intelligent individuals who pride themselves in creativity, hard work and resourcefulness.”
Meanwhile, the southwest caucus of the House of Representatives has stood against the activities carried out by acclaimed Yoruba Nation Agitators which caused disturbance and pose a threat to the peace and stability of the Southwest geopolitical region.
The position of the lawmakers was conveyed in a statement jointly signed by the Deputy Chief Whip of the House, Dr. Adewunmi Oriyomi Onanuga, the chairman of the southwest caucus, Dr. Abiodun James Faleke and the secretary of the caucus, Taofeek Ajilesoro.
The statement reads: “As representatives of the people, we stand firmly against any form of unlawful behaviour and violence that undermines the rule of law and the unity of our country, Nigeria.
“It is essential that all grievances and demands be addressed through peaceful and lawful means, respecting the rights and well-being of all citizens.
“We urge all parties involved to engage in constructive dialogue, prioritize the welfare of our people, and work towards finding peaceful and lasting solutions to any grievances.
“Violence and lawlessness have no place in our society, and we call on all individuals to uphold the principles of peace, unity, and respect for the rule of law.
“The South West Caucus remains committed to upholding the values of democracy, justice, and unity in our region and the country at large. Together, we can overcome challenges and build a better future for all.”
Aldo, a cleric, Pastor Femi Emmanuel, who is the Presiding Pastor, of Livingspring Chapel International, Abeokuta, has condemned the invasion of Oyo State Government Secretariat, Ibadan, saying the action is “treasonable.”
Emmanuel, a former Deputy Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, said many Nigerians believed the country should be restructured and regionalised for efficiency, quality governance and fast – paced development but said it was not in the form and manner the agitators attempted to foist on Yorubaland.
He urged well meaning Nigerians to condemned the insurrection – like action of the agitators, saying it was misdirected.
The former state lawmaker – turned preacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ, spoke while fielding questions from newsmen on the sideline of 60th birthday ceremony of the lead Pastor Victory Life Bible Church International, Ajebo road, Abeokuta, Apostle Lawrence Achudume.
He said, “In the first place they(agitators) were misdirected and that one (action) is treasonable. We all believe that Nigeria should be restructured, we all believe that Nigeria should be regionalized but not in the manner in which the so called agitators did. We don’t know who were behind them but that’s condemnable and I think it should be condemned by every well meaning Nigerian.”
Earlier on Monday, the Oyo State Government described Saturday’s invasion of the state secretariat in Ibadan by self-acclaimed Yoruba Nation agitators as treasonable.
The state Commissioner for information, Dotun Oyelade, who spoke with journalists in Ibadan, condemned the act, adding that there were better ways of agitation other than bloodshed.
“Attempting to barge into the hallowed chambers of the legislature and take it over with an arsenal of seven pump-action submachine guns and over 700 live cartridges, is clearly an act of terrorism.
“Oyo State remains the most peaceful state in Nigeria and Saturday’s incident will not take away that popular belief,” the commissioner said.
Similarly, the Corps Commander of Amotekun Corps in Osun State, Brig. Gen. Bashir Adewinmbi (retd), on Monday, warned against any unlawful gathering under the guise of Yoruba Nation agitation in any part of the state.
Adewinbi spoke on the heels of the preparation of the security organisation to keep the state safe in the wake of the perceived violent agitations by Yoruba Nation agitators.
He vowed that Amotekun would not allow protest by the group in Osun State.
Adewinbi said, “There is nothing like Yoruba Nation agitation here in Osun. Amotekun won’t tolerate any Yoruba Nation protest here. What they are agitating for, we have got it indirectly.
“The President, Senator Bola Tinubu, is a Yoruba man. They are looking for a Yoruba Nation and Nigeria is under a Yoruba man, so Nigeria is a Yoruba Nation now indirectly. They should not create insecurity here. They should not create confusion to distract the President. They should let him face governance.
“God has given him the power and he knows how to use it for the benefit of everyone, not only for Yoruba people alone. Let us give him time. They should forget about the Yoruba Nation agitation for now. There is nothing like that. We don’t need it. Only enemies of progress will join that kind of agitation.”
