Yoruba nation: Why we demolished Abiola widow’s house –Oyo govt

 

 

Ibrahim Quadri and  Joseph Okwuofu, Ibadan.

As controversy trailed the sudden demolition of the building owned by the self styled leader of the Yoruba Nation agitation , Modupe Onitiri Abiola, the state government on Thursday, said it took the decision to pull the building based on a High Court order.

According to the government, the building was found to be the operational base of the Yoruba Nation agitators.

The one storey-building located at Toye Oyeshola Street, Shahari area, Boluwaji, Oluyole local government area, Ibadan was demolished by the state government on Tuesday , an action which met public criticism.

But , the state government under the administration of Engr Seyi Makinde on Thursday explained it decided to pull down the building shortly after obtaining a court order to do so.

Speaking on the demolition of the building, the state Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Williams Akin-Funmilayo explained that government cannot be a judge, and prosecutor on its case.

He said with the order, the government has taken over the building .

Akin-Funmilayo further stressed that the the action was taken based on a High Court Order to the effect that the building should be demolished.

It is widely believed that the building served as operational base where the Yoruba Nation agitators under the leadership of Modupe Onitiri-Abiola carried out the attack on the state government Secretariat, Ibadan, the state capital.

The building on Toye Oyesola Street in the Ibadan South West Local Government Area was demolished on Wednesday evening.

It would be recalled that some masked men suspected to be Yoruba Nation Agitators stormed the Oyo Government Secretariat on Saturday, April 13.

Security operatives later arrested them. They were arraigned on Wednesday morning .

However, the Yoruba Nation Agitators have threatened to cause more havoc if security agents refuse to release their members who hoisted their flag at the Oyo State House of Assembly.

21 suspected agitators and several weapons, berets, soldiers’ boots, caps, charms and other dangerous weapons were paraded by the state Police Command in Ibadan.

The agitators, through their Deputy Coordinator, Victor Adewale, in a statement, also threatened President Bola Tinubu and Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State to bear the brunts if they fail to release arrested agitators.

The statement claimed that the said Adewale is based in Sweden and serves as the European Coordinator of the Oodua Progressive Union, OPU.
It noted that he was installed Akingbayi Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland in 2020.

The statement reads: “If Seyi Makinde refuses to release our men that were arrested and makes them sleep in the cell, he has called for war and Bola Tinubu will be greatly affected. The way we will ravage, you won’t all understand.

“I’m directed to warn you for the last time. Governor Makinde must release our warriors he arrested at the secretariat in Ibadan. He must release them immediately, he should return them to the secretariat, let them be doing their own there and we should be doing ours.

“If he continues to hold them, wherever you are; you will be rooted out. Our proclamation letters are with them. Tinubu, Tunji Disu, Makinde and all Amotekun in Yoruba land and the police, you must release those guys immediately. War is coming and I want to implore Yoruba people to go out en masse to protest. However, whether you like it or not, we have an interim government now for Yoruba Nation.”

However, A Senator representing Lagos Central Senatorial District, Wasiu Eshinlokun-Sanni has advised those agitating for Yoruba nation to rescind the move, saying fragmentation of Nigeria would not be necessary.

 

The Senator gave the advice while giving account of his stewardship at a Town Hall meeting on Thursday 18th, April, at Sabo, Yaba, Lagos where not less than 120 students were given scholarships as part of measures to lessen the level of poverty in the zone.

 

The event was attended by different stakeholders that included, leaders of APC, lawmakers both serving and former, artisans, market men and women, CDC, students and others.

 

Eshinlokun-Sanni, also gave out desktop computers, text books, stationery and many more other working tools across the local government and local council development areas of the Senatorial district.

 

The Senator told the beneficiaries, “After going through rigorous screening, 120 students were selected. I urge you to study harder. I wish you success in your future endeavors.”

 

Recall that no fewer than 29 Yoruba Nation agitators had been arraigned before the Chief Magistrate Court in Ibadan, Oyo State, for their involvement and roles in the aborted invasion of the Oyo State Government Secretariat on April 13.

 

They had invaded the state secretariat to hoist the Yoruba Nation flag before they were demobilished by security operatives.

 

The defendants, which included a young woman and five elderly women, faced a seven-count charge bordering on conspiracy, treasonable felony, belonging to unlawful society, going armed in public, conduct likely to cause breach of peace, and unlawful possession of firearms.

 

Speaking against the invasion, the Senator said, “This is not time for Yoruba nation, we are in the saddle of leadership.

 

“Don’t think you will be better off if you have a Yoruba nation. There is no need for fragmentation of the nation but to work for the nation so that it is going to be a better country.”

 

He further stated, “US is bigger than Nigeria but it is working. What we need is an egalitarian society.”

 

While stressing on the achievements since he was elected, Eshinlokun-Sanni who succeeded Senator Oluremi Tinubu said, “Following the foot-step of the First Lady, I’m pleased to inform you that the leadership of the Senate passed on to be member of several committees in August, 2023 and I am the chairman of Marine, Transport and Blue Economy. This committee affords me the opportunity to have made impacts on maritime activities especially in Lagos.”

 

He explained that he has facilitated the construction of coast road to address the challenges of erosion, distribution of GCE forms to lessen the burden of the constituents, digital raining of 1,500 youths and students, distribution of palliatives among others.

 

He stressed, “My people have invested their votes wisely, I will never rest on my oars. I’m working towards facilitating projects in all the local government and local council development areas,” saying the people of Lagos Central should expect a turnaround in no distant time.

 

According to him, the projects already in the pipeline ready for implementation are, provision of 100 street light at Ida Iduganran, rehabilitation of roads, construction of jetties, 18-seater clinic boats, hospital equipment to serve the riverine areas

 

Others include, construction of blocks of classrooms, provision of transformers, upgrade of sport facilities among others.

 

Also speaking at the event, the Leader of Governor Advisory Council, GAC , Prince Tajudeen Olusi who is from Lagos Central said, “I’m the happiest person in this gathering today. I thank Almighty God for placing me in the position for the advancement of many people.

 

“I want to ask the younger ones to be ready to serve, to be ready to be loyal, to be ready to serve the party. The journey of the distinguished senator, I have been privileged to be part of it.

 

“I urge all of you to continue to give him the necessary support. He is a man who is interested in education and we all know the importance of education in the development of any country,” the elder statesman noted.