Prof Banji Akintoye, who is the leader
of self-determination group, Ilana
Omo Oodua has denied reports that
he’s on the run.
According to him, he is not
intimidated by the reported plot of the
Federal Government to arrest him.
Akintoye in a statement said that he’s
in Benin Republic to show solidarity
with agitator, Sunday Igboho. He said
this in a statement on Sunday titled, ‘I
am in Republic of Benin with Sunday
Igboho, not on the run – Akintoye.’
The 86-year-old professor of history
was reacting to an exclusive report by
Sunday PUNCH that the ex-Senate
member in the Second Republic left
Nigeria about three months ago when
he uncovered plot by the regime of
the President Muhammadu Buhari to
arrest him.
Akintoye and embattled Yoruba
Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo aka
Sunday Igboho have been seen
holding press conferences and rallies
to champion the cause for the
secession of Yoruba Nation.
Igboho, now in a detention facility in
Cotonou, had been declared wanted by
the Department of State Services for
allegedly stockpiling arms to
destabilise Nigeria under the pretext
of Yoruba Nation, an allegation he
denied.
This was after the secret police raided
Igboho’s Ibadan around 1am on July
1, 2021, killed two of his associates
and arrested 12.
Igboho had gone underground and
escaped to Benin Republic but was
apprehended on July 19, 2021 around
8pm while he tried to board a flight
to Germany with his wife, Ropo.
In a statement on Sunday, Akintoye
said he didn’t run away from Nigeria
but had been in Benin Republic to
ensure the release of Igboho.
The statement was signed by his
Communications Manager, Maxwell
Adeleye.
According to the statement, Akintoye
said just like Ighoho, he has
committed no offense against Nigerian
laws to warrant being arrested,
intimidated or harassed.
Adeleye quoted Akintoye as saying,
“Myself, the President-General and
Professor Wale Adeniran (Chairman)
of Ilana Omo Oodua, are currently in
the Republic of Benin as reported, but
not on the run.
“We are here to supervise and
coordinate, by all legal and other
means, the struggle for the release of
our son and patriot, Sunday Adeyemo,
detained by the government.
“By demanding peaceful self-
determination for the Yoruba Nation,
I am not breaking any law, since self-
determination is recognised by the
International and Nigerian laws to be
an inalienable right of every
nationality, large or small, in the
world.
“I have earned a solid reputation as a
highly respectable advocate of a
peaceful self-determination struggle. I
have even written a book on the
subject which is already being used as
a manual by Yoruba self-
determination advocates and
organisations.
“Irrespective of what the Nigerian
Government may be planning against
me, I want to say without any fear or
intimidation that I will be returning to
Nigeria immediately Ighoho is
released from the custody. I can’t be
intimidated because I’ve not
committed any offense, just like
Sunday Igboho.”
DSS: I’ve Not Fled
Nigeria, I’m in Benin for
Igboho – Leader of Ilana
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