The Leadership of Yoruba Nation a self-determination group, Prof. Emeritus Adebanji Akintoye has denied that his group has nothing to do with the group of harmed men that stormed the Secretariat of Oyo state, Agodi, Ibadan on Saturday.
In a statement released by the Professor on Sunday while making clear expression of the group, he explained that the invader spelled out their name to be Democratic Republic of The Yoruba, a group under Mrs. Dupe Onitiri-Abiola (the Widow of Late M.K.O Abiola).
According to him, “At about the time of the morning on Saturday 13th of April, 2024. It was the Muslim week end Holiday. We received report that a group of Harmed Men had stormed the Oyo State Government Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, Oyo State.
“Upon the receipt of the report, the Nigerian Security troops immediately mobilized to the scene and cordoned off the secretariat. We later understood who these harmed Men were, after Nigerian Security engaged them, they were observed to be Dupe Onitiri-Abiola (The Widow of Late M.K.O Abiola) agitator group in Military Camouflage.
“And red berets, who invaded the secretariat in buses and bike.The invader spelt out their name to be DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE YORUBA, a group under Mrs. Dupe Onitiri- Abiola. We will like to make clear expression here, that YORUBA NATION Movement has nothing to do with Mrs. Dupe Onitiri-Abiola and group”, Akintoye said.
He clarified that the invader Organization is different from their movement. “We are Yoruba Nation Self-Determination Movement (YSDM), our Yoruba Nation is registered by UNPO under Prof. Adebanji Akintoye.Their Organization is Democratic Republic of the Yoruba (DRY) under Mrs. Dupe Onitiri-Abiola.
“The Administrative Managements are different, the people in the Yoruba Nation are law abiding Yoruba people with polite orientation. But, the Democratic Republic people of Dupe Onitiri are arrogant and rude, aggressive and militarize.
“The Official Media platforms of communication are different. Yoruba Nation under Adebanji Akintoye uses Yoruba World Media, streaming from United Kingdom while, Democratic Republic under Mrs. Dupe Onitiri-Abiola uses the Ijinle Marcus Media, streaming from Turkeya”, he explained.
Akintoye warned any reporting Nigerian Media to link or report the Oyo Secretariat invasion with YORUBA NATION. “Ignorant is not an excuse, a journalist must do his/her due diligence before reporting story. Any media who linked Yoruba Nation to dastard act will face the Court of Law for Defamation, and if print Media; will be charge for Libel”.
He stated further that there is a big difference between YORUBA NATION organization and so called DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE YORUBA organization. “While the incident was going on, Professor Adebanji Akintoye and Chief Dr. Sunday Adeyemo (Igboho Oosha) came on air to condemn and debunk support for the dastard act of invasion.
“In the evening Mrs Dupe Onitiri-Abiola was on air to confirm and acclaim organizer of the invasion and the attack. She called them her (ADELE) in Yoruba translation: interim Government. We therefor asking the Nigerian Government both State and Federal to declare Mrs. Dupe Onitiri-Abiola wanted.
“If not for any charges, but to come and explain reason for the invasion on a weekend Holiday. We stand as Yoruba Nation, and our Self-determination is an inalienable right in which Nigerian Government is a signatory to same under United Nation Chapter.
“We are not terrorist, neither are we secessionist. Our right for Self-determination shall not be undermined, not for any unwarranted assessment of any other Yoruba Group that are alien to our movement”, Akintoye concluded.
Some suspected Yoruba Nation agitators, on Saturday, invaded the Oyo State Government Secretariat, Agodi in Ibadan, the state capital. Eyewitnesses told PUNCH Online that the masked men were stationed at different locations within the area.
This situation, according to investigation, sent panic to the residents and road users along the routes. Businesses and residents around Bodija, Ikolaba, and Awolowo were said to have quickly locked their shops and doors as some who were about to open for the day’s business turned back.
Sequel to the report of an attack on the Oyo State Secretariat Agodi, Ibadan, Saturday, the Nigerian Army troops said it has promptly responded to the incident and had contact with adherents of Yoruba Nation dressed in foreign military camouflage with berets and armed with dangerous weapons in buses and motorbikes.
According to the statement released by the Army Spokesman, Major General Onyeama Nwachukwu on Saturday explained that upon encountering the troops, the Yoruba nation adherents engaged in a shootout.
While added that the army troops, utilizing superior firepower, successfully subdued the attackers, who subsequently retreated in disarray. As a result of this engagement, nine members of irredentist group apprehended, also one Semi Automatic Pump Action rifle and ammunition were recovered.