Yoruba Nation activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has distanced himself and his organization from the planned protest scheduled to begin on Thursday. In a statement released yesterday, Igboho clarified that the protest is being organized by unknown and "faceless individuals" aiming to disintegrate the country.
Igboho commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his revolutionary policies, particularly for increasing the minimum wage and reducing food prices. He stated, "Since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office on May 29th, 2023, he has implemented revolutionary policies which his predecessors lacked the political will to pursue. These bold steps have, unsurprisingly, unsettled those who believe it is their birthright to rule Nigeria. And in response, there have been attempts to undermine his administration, particularly on social media, with the aim of creating discord between the government and the people."
He noted that the planned protests, slated to begin on August 1st, 2024, under the slogan "Tinubu Must Go!" are politically motivated. Igboho emphasized that while the right to peaceful protest is enshrined in the Constitution, it does not extend to calls for unconstitutional regime change. He recalled that during President Buhari’s eight-year tenure, there were no such protests for regime change from the Southwest, even when faced with oppression and atrocities by Fulani terrorists.
Igboho declared that the Yoruba Nation Movement would not participate in the protest, stating, "The Yoruba Nation Movement and I firmly declare that we will not participate in any protest aimed at using the Southwest as a battleground for political upheaval. We stand resolute in our belief that the Yoruba nation will not be a launchpad for disintegrating Nigeria."
He acknowledged the global economic hardship and praised the current administration's measures to alleviate these challenges, such as increasing the minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000. Igboho urged all Yoruba people and well-meaning Nigerians to reject the politically motivated movement, emphasizing that change should come through democratic processes.
Igboho concluded with a strong warning against any attempts to instigate violence, stating, "We also issue a strong and unequivocal warning that we will firmly resist any individuals or groups attempting to instigate violence under the guise of these protests. They are strictly warned to stay off the streets across Yorubaland on the designated protest days and in the future. To be forewarned is to be forearmed."
