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As Order from the Inspector General of Police of Nigeria to arrest Sunday Igboho see limelight, Nnamdi Kanu, Pastor Giwa and Femi Fani Kayode has reacted.
Fulani eviction: Presidency confirms order for arrest of Sunday Igboho
The Presidency has confirmed that the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, ordered the arrest of Yoruba activist, Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho.
Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, claimed the order of arrest came after the activist gave Fulani in Oyo State an ultimatum to exit the state.
Garba Shehu was quoted as saying this on Saturday during an interview with BBC Hausa.
The BBC quoted the presidential aide as saying an order had been given to the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Ngozi Onadeko, to arrest Igboho immediately and transfer him to Abuja.
“Garba said he just got off the telephone with the Inspector General of the Nigeria Police, who confirmed to him that he had ordered the arrest of Igboho, who is to be brought to Abuja,” the BBC said.
“Igboho is among topics that have generated public discussion on social media in Nigeria on Friday since he visited Igangan in Ibarapa Local Government (of Oyo State) where he insisted that all Fulani residents in Oyo State must leave as long as kidnapping continues.
A Yoruba activist, Sunday Igboho, on Saturday made good his threat to expel Fulanis from Igangan in Oyo State.
Igangan is a community in Ibarapa North Local Government Area.
Last Friday, Igboho and his supporters stormed the area and gave the Fulani one week to leave.
Herdsmen quit notice: Nothing must happen to Sunday Igboho – Nnamdi Kanu warns Oyo CP, Onadeko
The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has warned the new Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Mrs Ngozi Onadeko to resign now rather than arrest Sunday Igboho.
Kanu made the call in response to the arrest of Igboho over his quit notice to herdsmen.
The IPOB leader, in a statement, warned Onadeko to ensure nothing happens to Igboho and Yoruba youths rising up against herdsmen.
He said: “You are an Igbo woman so I expect you to be reasonable enough to know that Fulani IGP posted you to Oyo to superintend the arrest or possible killing of Yoruba youths in order to ferment enmity between the East and the West at this critical juncture in the history of the liberation of all indigenous peoples across Nigeria, including you and your family.
“I will advise you to resign honourably from your position as a certain Yoruba CP did in Abia State when he declined to order men under his command to open fire on IPOB protesters.
“I am warning you not to do anything likely to jeopardise the safety or well-being of Sunday Ighoho otherwise you and your family will have the might of IPOB to contend with.
“The silly game you people always play will no longer wash with us. Suddenly Fulani has realised that appointing an Igbo woman as Police Commissioner is a good thing because they want to use you. Nothing should happen to Igboho.”
Sunday Igboho stood because Yoruba leaders too timid – Fani-Kayode warns Buhari
Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode has reacted to the actions of Sunday Igboho against the Fulanis.
He said the activist did not ask all Fulanis to leave but those who engage in killings and kidnappings.
The former presidential aide lambasted Yoruba leaders for being “timid”.
He said if they had taken strong actions against incessant attacks in the region, Igboho would not have a reason to take up the fight.
In a statement on Saturday, the government critic warned authorities against actions that may worsen the situation.
He noted that it would be dangerous, reckless and counterproductive for President Muhammadu 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?”
Fani-Kayode advised the federal government to tread softly, noting that Sunday has the full support of the Yoruba nation and 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.
“The way to solve the problem is to arrest the herdsmen that kill and kidnap our people in the SW and not to arrest or kill those that are standing up and speaking for their victims.
“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?
“In 1999 when Gani Adams was rising, 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 and apartheid in our land when other Yoruba leaders were too timid to stand. I commend his courage
Sunday Igboho’s arrest will break Nigeria, Buhari protecting Fulanis – Pastor Giwa
The senior pastor of Awaiting the Second Coming of Christ Ministry, Adewale Giwa has warned President Muhammadu Buhari against arresting Sunday Igboho.
The cleric condemned the federal government for going after Igboho after he issued an ultimatum to Fulanis in Oyo to exit the state.
The Yoruba activist, real name, Sunday Adeyemo, reiterated his deadline on Friday.
Giwa, in a statement on Saturday, said Igboho’s arrest “will hasten the disintegration of Nigeria”.
The Christian leader accused the President of protecting Fulani “while they continue to kill our people”.
“Why didn’t IGP arrest Miyetti Allah and their representatives in Abuja? Let me inform you that Sunday Igboho is doing the right thing for the entire Yoruba nation.
“You can’t threaten, kill or arrest him unless you want to arrest all of us. When a government fails in its responsibilities to protect the citizens, people have no option than to protect themselves.
“Nigerians have tolerated Fulani herdsmen for over five years, and it is time all of us rise up to defend ourselves.”
Giwa added that only a despicable person would be happy with President Buhari’s handling of security challenges in Nigeria over the years.
