Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has warned the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), not to arrest or kill popular Yoruba activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho.
Fani-Kayode who gave the warning on his official Twitter handle said such would be dangerous, reckless and counter-productive.
He said this following a report that the Inspector-General of Police, Adamu Mohammed, has ordered the new Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Ngozi Onadeko, to arrest Igboho immediately and transfer him to Abuja.
The order was confirmed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu while speaking in an interview with BBC Hausa.
The order was issued shortly after Igboho, and his supporters stormed a community in Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo State where he addressed a crowd following the expiration of the seven-day ultimatum he issued for Fulani herdsmen to vacate the state.
Reacting to the order for Igboho’s arrest, Fani-Kayode advised the Federal Government to tread carefully because the activist has the full support of the Yoruba.
He said, “It would be dangerous, reckless and counter-productive for Buhari to arrest or kill Sunday Igboho. When the Northern youths demanded that Igbos should leave the north, no-one was arrested. Why should Sunday be arrested or killed for asking killer Fulani herdsmen to leave South-West?
“I advise the FG to tread softly because Sunday has the full support of the Yoruba nation because he has spoken for the people. Kill him and you make him a martyr for Oduduwa, arrest him and you make him the greatest hero of the Yoruba since independence. Whichever way he wins.
He said the way to solve the problem is to arrest the herdsmen that kill and kidnap the people in the South-West, not by arresting or killing those that are standing up and speaking for their victims.
He said, “Sunday did not ask for all Fulanis to leave South-West. He asked for the killers, terrorists and kidnappers amongst them to leave Ibarapa and the Yoruba people love him for it. Is that a crime? As long as he maintains the peace and does not indulge in or encourage any violence, I do not see what he has done wrong?
“In 1999 when Gani Adams was rising up, I identified him as a young man to watch. I wrote an essay about him and I said his courage would take him far. I was proved right. Today I identify Sunday Igboho who has stood up against wickedness, injustice & apartheid in our land when other Yoruba leaders were too timid to stand. I commend his courage.”
PUNCH