A Yoruba pressure group called Agbekoya Warriors has expressed its displeasure against the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, for passing what it described as discrediting comments on some elders in the South-West arguing that doing such is unethical.
The minister had, in his reaction to agitation in some quarters for Yoruba nation, stated that those behind the call are “foolish and ignorant.”
In a statement signed and made available to journalists in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Tuesday by its National Coordinator and Jagunmolu Agbekoya of Yorubaland, Prince Kunle Adelakun a.k.a Eruobodo, the group said the Minister’s reaction was disappointing.
The statement read, “It is disheartening and very hard to believe what came from Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola when he said the agitators of Oduduwa Nation are foolish. That is an insult of great magnitude. The statement undermines the intelligence of Yoruba people. It is a slap to the Oduduwa nation.
“It was least expected from someone of his caliber. We are aware of the fact that Aregbesola is serving his master, the Federal Government, but he must also know that Yoruba Nation knows what they want and the people will never compromise their stance.
“If Ogbeni Aregbesola has compromised his people to protect his political interest and plum job while his people are going through hardship, kidnapping, killings of our farmers and villagers by the Fulanis, it is completely rude and absurd to call those championing our liberation from the shackle of oppression, injusticeand marginalization foolish.
“People like Prof. Banji Akintoye, our royal fathers and other eminent personalities in Yorubaland; including Chief Sunday Adeyemo, a.k.a Sunday Igboho must never be regarded as being foolish. They are certainly our today’s heroes. Ogbeni Aregbesola must examine himself.
“We are quick to understand where exactly Ogbeni Aregbesola is coming from. He should not tell us what we have already known. We urge him to wake up from slumber. Nigeria has not liberated herself from injustice, oppression, nepotism and corruption not to talk of liberating Africa.
“We, Agbekoya Warriors under the leadership of High Chief Olalere Ayalu, are well prepared to defend the Yoruba Nation with or without the support of our politicians. We had done it in the past and we would do it again without a gun shot.
“We can no longer fold up our arms seeing our people being killed by the Fulanis. Enough of bloodshed and killings. Yoruba people in the South-West are sick and tired. The Agbekoya, the kabiyesis and the South-West governors are on the same page.
“At this juncture, we are giving the Federal Government 21 days to correct the wrongs and do what is appropriate to tackle the insecurity in the South-West. We shall not hesitate to declare the Oduduwa Republic if the Federal Government fails.”
