Why Igboho should be released now- Soyinka

Nobel laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, has appealed to the government of the Republic of Benin to free Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, currently in prison custody in the West African country.

 Speaking with journalists in Lagos on Friday during an interactive session titled, “Sanctions on the loose: Chasing the gnat with a sledgehammer,” the elder statesman said the secessionist committed no known crime against Nigeria.

Men of the Department of State Services on July 1, 2021, raided the Ibadan, Oyo State home of the activist, killed two and arrested 12 of his aides.

Igboho later fled to the Republic of Benin where he was arrested alongside his wife on July 19, 2021, by the International Criminal Police Organisation at the Cadjehoun Airport in Cotonou on their way to Germany.

His wife, Ropo, was released and Igboho is facing illegal migration charges in the Republic of Benin and seeking asylum to evade Federal Government’s request for his extradition to face allegations of stockpiling arms which he had denied.

Reacting to the development, Soyinka condemned the Federal Government’s role in Igboho’s travails.

READ ALSO: Soyinka opens up on Nigeria’s future under Buhari

Soyinka stated, “He is against Fulani herdsmen tyranny and threw out criminal herdsmen terrorising his neighbourhood.  That’s his real crime. I refuse to accept that Igboho is being chased because he peacefully demonstrated his position vis-a-vis the destiny of this nation which is a fundamental human right of anybody. Somebody called for secession or a separate state, I don’t consider that (a criminal act) and nowhere is that declared a criminal act as long as it’s done peacefully and collectively within the law.

“You don’t criminalise the action and in addition commit a criminal act against such an individual. That was what the security services did by raiding Igboho’s home at 2am, killing two of his people and claiming, without a warrant or anything, that they found weapons in his house. Who is going to believe that cock and bull story?

“This is an appeal to the government of the Republic of Benin. Why are you keeping the victim in your prison? What crime did he commit against your state that you are holding him in prison, instead of letting him continue his journey? Igboho has not committed any crime against any known law in this nation.

He added, “We are calling on the United Nations to intervene and stop this slave trade; to live up to its noble intentions, declarations and rescue these children and put a stop to this act. If Nigeria continues to stand on her sovereignty, I leave this to the experts, I am talking as a layman, I think the protocols of the UN enable the organisation to declare sections of this country under the UN.

“If the government has failed to protect its own people and failed to fulfil its responsibility under protocols it’s a signatory to, the UN has a right and responsibility to declare those zones UN protectorates.  We don’t want what we are undergoing now to become the new normal peculiar to the Nigerian nation.’’

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The essayist also faulted the infraction letter sent to Channels Television by the National Broadcasting Commission for some comments purportedly made against Buhari by two guests who featured on a programme on the station.