AKINWALE ABOLUWADE
Frontline Yoruba self-determination group, the Ilana Omo Oodua, has described as untrue the viral negative information against its leader, Prof. Banji Akintoye, on the social media platforms noting that some aggrieved elements were at work.
The Ilana Omo Oodua queried the veracity of the allegations that were purportedly made by Prof. Wale Adeniran, a former chief of the group in a audio clip alleging Akintoye of engaging in indicting financial activities under the guise of working in the interest of the group.
A communique and audio documents released by the leadership of Ilana Omo Oodua including Chief Kunle Adelakun Eruobodo, Princess Tanimowo Okusaga, Barr. Funmi Soyemi, Dr. Wumi Okocha and Mr. Adejare Ojekale, revealed the content of discussion allegedly between Prof. Adeniran and a member of the group who is based in the United States of America.
In the audio clip, Adeniran allegedly stated that Prof. Akintoye sometimes collected the sum of N6million (six million naira) from the Canada chapter of Ilana Omo Oodua under the guise that the money would be used to further the agenda of the group, but was not properly applied.
The US based member of Ilana also stated in the audio that Prof. Akintoye once requested for the sum of $2,000 (two thousand US dollars) to fund a mission to Brazil.
However, Ilana Omo Oodua said in a statement titled, ‘Re- Dr Wale Adeniran’s vituperation against Prof. Banji Akintoye,’ that the viral allegations against their leader were antics of fourth columnists to discredit their leader in a bid to frustrate the Yoruba nation agenda.
The statement read in parts, “The Ilana Omo Oodua Worldwide condemns, unanimously, Dr. Wale Adeniran’s uncouth and disrespectful allegations leveled against our leader and founder, the Supreme head of Ilana Omo Oodua Worldwide, Prof. Banji Stephen Akintoye.
“The recent recorded audio clips being released and circulated by Dr Wale Adeniran’s agents, which had gone viral in the social media circle, was intended to tarnish, destroy or defame Prof. Banji Akintoye, leader of the Yoruba self-determination struggle.
“We urge the unsuspecting members of the public to regard the said audio clips as ‘fables of the century’ from a pathological liar and betrayal of trust. This is nothing but a sham from a dishonest associate who is hell-bent to destroy the Yoruba self-determination struggle, and by extension, the collective interests of the Yoruba for liberation.
“Dr Wale Adeniran’s attitude to downgrade or bring Prof. Banji Akintoye’s name to disrepute is against Yoruba ethos and culture of ‘omoluabi.’ Wale Adeniran has proved to us the kind of person he is.
“Meanwhile, we are not surprised at all because, ‘By their character and mannerism we shall know them.’ Dr Adeniran’s audio clip release in the social media has defined him to the whole world. Act of betrayal is not strange; it is written in the Holy Bible that Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus Christ. We should not be surprised if Wale Adeniran do the same to his principal.
“We strongly believe that Wale Adeniran can never succeed in his attempt to destroy, tarnish and bring into disrepute the integrity of our leader, Prof Akintoye, which he has built over the years. We wouldn’t have reacted this way or gone public but Dr Adeniran demanded it. He wanted the same medium he used for response if all the allegations leveled against Baba Akintoye were not true.
“The Ilana Omo Oodua Worldwide would not have loved to join issues with Dr Wale Adeniran since he had resigned from the Ilana Omo Oodua and the Yoruba nation agitation. And, naturally also, Prof. Banji Akintoye would not like to join issues with the man. Baba Akintoye is civil and well-mannered.
“Ilana Omo Oodua would not fold its arms seeing its revered leader being molested by his estranged subordinate. Going down memory lane, Dr. Adeniran put pressure on Baba Akintoye to quit Yoruba World Congress citing conspiracy against him (Baba Akintoye). He also instigated people against his principal, Prof Baba Akintoye, and also put pressure on him to leave NINAS.
“The last straw was when he bundled or kidnapped Prof. Banji Akintoye away from Nigeria to his comfort zone, Cotonoun, Republic of Benin while citing security threats as an excuse. Dr. Adeniran succeeded in manipulating Baba Akintoye for so long just to protect his personal interest and ambition.”
Efforts made to reach Prof. Adeniran via his mobile telephone numbers were abortive as several calls put across did not go through.
WhatsApp and text messages that were sent to his telephone line in the Republic of Benin for a group press interview were also not replied.
Though, Baba Akintoye was warned severally by many people against the conceived plots of Wale Adeniran but because of the genuine love and sincerity of purpose in which Baba Akintoye has for him, Baba didn’t see it coming.”
In the audio clip rendered in Yoruba, Adeniran was quoted in parts as saying, “They started calling names alleging that I want to kill Akintoye. That I wanted to take his position and make myself the Alana and so on. They have been at it now for more than one year. I am sick, tired of it. I cannot continue to expose my name to spurious, malicious allegations. I have a family, so he has invited me to a meeting… I have made up my mind, I am not taking it anymore. He (Akintoye) is not an honest customer; he is deceitful, he feels insecure. I cannot continue to operate with such a man because he is also deadly. He is diabolical.
“I have briefed my lawyer and he said that he is going to take pains to study the things.
“Now, I think Akintoye can no longer control his propensity for money. In the past four to five weeks, he had forced N6million out of Canada. I was the who told them that it is enough.”
