TheNewsGuru

Tag: YORUBA NATION

  • Photos: Panic as traditionalists storm Yoruba Nation protest venue

    Photos: Panic as traditionalists storm Yoruba Nation protest venue

    The Yoruba Nation rally in Lagos has turned rowdy as traditionalists dressed in their white attire stormed the venue of the protest.

    The traditionalists accompanied by other Protesters chanted “Oduduwa Nation now”, “Yoruba Nation Now”

    Security Operatives teargassed the protesters but the defiant protesters have refused to back down.

    The traditionalists while speaking to police men urged them to protect them rather than teargass them.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CQ3OTEMjJqo/?utm_medium=copy_link

  • Yoruba nation rally: Security operatives surround rally venue

    Yoruba nation rally: Security operatives surround rally venue

    There is palpable heavy presence of security operatives at the Gani Fawehinmi Park in Ojota, Lagos, the planned venue of the Yoruba nation rally.

    Men of the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps are stationed at the Park. It was also gathered that men of the Department of State Services are among the joint security forces who are at the venue with scores of patrol vans, heavy anti-riot gun trucks and Black Marias.

    As at the time of filing this report, no Yoruba nation agitator has been seen at the venue.

    The Lagos State Police Commissioner, Hakeem Odumosu, was also seen with his men at the venue. TheNewsGuru recalls that police operatives had on Friday embarked on a show of force in the state to warn agitators against any form of rally slated to hold in Lagos.

    Following Thursday raid of the house of Yoruba rights activist Sunday Adeyemo also known as Sunday Igboho by the Department of State Services, the activist, who has been declared wanted by the secret police for allegedly stockpiling arms, had suspended the Lagos rally.

    However, the umbrella body of Yoruba Self-Determination Groups, Ilana Omo Oodua, led by Second Republic Senator, Banji Akintoye, had said there was no going back, adding that “It is the duty of Police to ensure the rally is not hijacked by hoodlums”.

    “Our rally scheduled to hold on Saturday will still hold without any fear or intimidation and we promise to be peaceful like we have always been,” the Akintoye-led body wrote in a letter to the Commissioner of Police in the state, Hakeem Odumosu; and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

    Details later…

     

  • Yoruba Nation: Stay off Lagos; no rally allowed for now, Police warn Igboho, Akintoye

    Yoruba Nation: Stay off Lagos; no rally allowed for now, Police warn Igboho, Akintoye

    Lagos State Commissioner of Police Hakeem Odumosu has warned that no rally, under whatever guise, will be allowed to hold in the state.

    He, therefore, warned Sunday Igboho and Banji Akintoye to stay away from the state.

    Odumosu, who addressed reporters Thursday, warned the agitators and their followers against staging the planned July 3rd rally as anyone caught participating or facilitating the rally would be dealt with within the ambit of the law.

    According to Odumosu, intelligence shows that some disgruntled elements have perfected plans to infiltrate the protesters and cause more mayhem. He added that information had gotten to the knowledge of the command that the organisers’ foot-soldiers and mobilisers have concluded plans to embark on procession on the streets of Lagos as part of programmes for the mega rally.

    He said: “It has come to the knowledge of the command that the rally, arranged to hold at Gani Fawehimi Freedom Park in Ojota, Lagos, has been planned by some other yet-to-be identified groups to simultaneously hold at Lekki Toll Gate, Ikoyi, Iyana-Ipaja, Ikeja, Surulere, Ikorodu and other areas. This, if allowed, could be a fatal ground for anarchy.

    “Intelligence also reveals that one Elewe-Omo, a transport union leader in Ibadan, Oyo State, has perfected plans to attack organisers of the rally as a reprisal for the death of one of his followers allegedly killed by one of Igboho’s group.

    “The cumulative effect of all these is a threat to law and order. The command will not watch and allow disgruntled elements truncate the peace being enjoyed in the state.

    “Lagos State cannot afford to experience any security lapses, breakdown of law and order, and threat to public peace at the moment, considering the negative effects and reoccurring agonies of the October 2020 #Endsars crisis that led to massive destruction of public and private facilities, and some police personnel paying the supreme price. This is in addition to many police stations, barracks, officers’ personal properties that were burnt.

    “The command is still going through those harrowing experiences, and it will not be cajoled by the so-called organisers that the rally will be peaceful. That was the same slogan adopted by organisers of the #Endsars protest which eventually snowballed into crises with attendant destruction of lives and properties.

    “The police will not submit to their antics. Recall that on June 12, there was a rumored stay-at-home order purported to have been issued by a group, which was immediately debunked by the command.

    “On this note, the command reaffirms that on no account will any actual or rumored activity, including the said planned mega rally, be allowed to lockdown the state or hinder the people’s daily activities.

    “The command hereby appeals to the people, especially Lagosians, to shun the rally, while parents and guardians are urged to discourage their children and wards from participating therein.”

    Odumosu urged the people to go about their normal daily activities as the police and other security agencies have put measures in place to provide adequate and water-tight security for all.

    Commissioner for Information and Strategy Gbenga Omotoso said the while the government was not against rallies in a democratic setting, the state ‘is not ripe for any rally to take place now’.

    He noted that the state is still smarting from the negative impacts of the #EndSARS protests and would not allow any repeat of such tragic incident in the state.

    He said: “I implore all those who are organising the rally to please take note that nobody is saying they shouldn’t hold a rally or protest, nobody is saying you shouldn’t march, but the timing is not right.

    “Lagos is still feeling the pains of the last October #EndSARS protests that started peacefully and ended in violence, violence on a scale that we have never witnessed before, one that was beyond belief.

    “So this is why we have come here today, to let you know that Lagos is not against this rally but, at this point in time, anybody who has the intention to join the rally should shelve it in the interest of the public and the state. The scare of #EndSars is still visible, and we advise the organisers to shelve it because the law will take its course. The government of Lagos is not against rally; we are democrats. People have the right to protest, but we are saying it is not good for us at this time.”

  • Yoruba Nation: Sunday Igboho sends message to Gov Sanwo-Olu ahead of ‘peaceful rally’ in Lagos

    Yoruba Nation: Sunday Igboho sends message to Gov Sanwo-Olu ahead of ‘peaceful rally’ in Lagos

    Self acclaimed Yoruba activist, Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho, has announced his plan to lead a ‘Yoruba Nation’ protest in Lagos.

    Igboho said the rally would hold on July 3 at Freedom Park in Ojota. The proposed rally was announced through the acclaimed activist’s spokesperson, Olayomi Koiki, on Facebook.

    “We are sending a peaceful message to Governor Sanwo-Olu. We do not mind any other person who is saying we should not come to Lagos. Sanwo-Olu is the chief security officer of the land and we are coming to Lagos.

    “July 3rd is the most important date; nobody cannot say we should not come to Lagos. It is a peaceful rally.”

    TheNewsGuru.com, Tthat Igboho held in Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Ekiti and Oyo States. In some cases, police forcefully dispersed the agitators.

    The Lagos police spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, said he is not aware of the rally.

    “I am not aware of Sunday Igboho’s planned Lagos rally. When the command is aware, the command will react to that. For now, we are not aware of that,” he said.

    But the All Progressives Congress (APC),UK Chapter, has urged Igboho, to shelve the rally. The group, in a statement by its chairman, Phillip Idaewor, argued that the rally might be hijacked by hoodlums to unleash terror on Lagos residents.

    “We are not opposed to the ideas of making Nigeria work better for the many and not the few,” the group said in a statement.

  • Panic as Yoruba nation agitators take over Abeokuta; shops, markets shut

    Panic as Yoruba nation agitators take over Abeokuta; shops, markets shut

    Yoruba nation agitators took to the roads in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, calling for the emergence of a separate country of their own out of present Nigeria.

    The agitators armed with assorted charms rode in motorcades and motorcycles across the major roads – traversing through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Ibara Divisional Police Headquarters and Government House areas before heading towards Sapon area of Abeokuta.

    They chanted; ‘We Want the Yoruba Nation,’ ‘self-determination is our right’ among other things as the procession progressed largely peaceful but what could have led to an unpleasant encounter between them and the security operatives was averted as the rally coursed through Nigeria Correctional Centre (NCC) Ibara, area.

    As the procession momentarily pulled up in front of the entrance of NCC, Ibara, Armed Squad unit of NCC, soldiers and other security agents manning the area asked them to leave.

    A lady, Shola Kogbodoku, who spoke on behalf of the agitators, said the peaceful rally was meant to draw the world’s attention to their calls for the Yoruba nation, stressing that Nigeria in its present form is neither working nor serving the best interests of all the constituent parts.

    According to her, the time has come for people to assert their rights to self – determination, secede and peacefully disengage from Nigeria.

    However, at the Lagos garage, Ijebu-Ode, there were reported cases of shootings by people suspected to hoodlums leading to scores of people scampering to safety in different directions.

  • Yoruba Nation Campaigners to protest June 12

    Yoruba Nation Campaigners to protest June 12

    Yoruba Nation agitators are planning to hold ‘peaceful rallies’ across the southwest region on Saturday June 12, TheNewsGuru gathered

    The pro-Yoruba nation protesters have held rallies across southwest states including Osun, Ogun, Ekiti, and Ondo.

    Also, NANS under the leadership of its National President, Comrade Sunday Asefon, had declared June 12 as National Day of Peaceful Protest to call on government to act decisively towards addressing insecurity.

    Pro-democracy campaigner, Omoyele Sowore, also called for nationwide June 12 protest against the President Buhari-led administration.

    Igboho’s spokesman, Olayomi Koiki in a live video programme aired on Wednesday night, called on southwest Governors to cooperate with the peaceful protesters during the exercise.

    He said: “Let us warn the Federal Government that if there is bloodshed this weekend, the international community is watching, if the military kills any Nigerian this weekend, it is going to be very hot.

    “The Yoruba Nation rally will go ahead in every part of Yoruba land and the rest of the country where it will hold.

    “Red alarm will begin on Friday. People should stock up food Items from Friday night.

    “We are not backing down this weekend; we are ready to take back what belongs to us.”

     

  • Yoruba nation agitators are foolish – Aregbesola

    Yoruba nation agitators are foolish – Aregbesola

    Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola on Saturday said those leading and supporting agitation for the Yoruba Nation are foolish saying “they should consider the consequences of war.”

    Aregbesola while speaking at Zenabab Hotel, Ilesha, Osun State during his 64th birthday celebration warned that agitators must consider the women, children, old people and those living with disabilities who are mostly affected.

    He said Nigeria must be more united else African countries will be enslaved once again.

    He noted that Nigeria is the country that will liberate Africa from all oppressions therefore Nigerians must not give nod to secessionists.

    “Anything that threatens and creates a problem for Nigeria may cause backwardness for our country for 50 years,” he added.

  • Soyinka distances self from fake WhatsApp posting on Yoruba Nation in his name

    Soyinka distances self from fake WhatsApp posting on Yoruba Nation in his name

    Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka on Thursday denounced a fake WhatApp posting on the Yoruba State agitation being attributed to him.

    Soyinka, in a statement titled: “They are back,” urged the public to ignore the utterances of those contemptible interlopers who lacked the courage of their conviction and thus take to identity theft for the furtherance of their views.

    He said he did not not not participate in Facebook, Tweet, Blog, WhatsApp or other offerings of the Social Media.

    According to him, any views he wished to express on national and other issues routinely went through the print media.

    The statement reads in full: “THEY ARE BACK!

    “Professor Wole SOYINKA wishes to denounce the fake WhatsApp posting on the Yoruba state agitation being attributed to him.

    Once again, he requests the public to ignore the utterances of those contemptible interlopers who lack the courage of their conviction and thus take to Identity Theft for the furtherance of their views. For a start, Wole Soyinka does not participate in Facebook, Tweet, Blog, WhatsApp or other offerings of the Social Media.

    Any views that he wishes to express on national and other issues routinely go through the print media.”

  • Yoruba nation agitators forcefully reopen Idiroko border

    Yoruba nation agitators forcefully reopen Idiroko border

    There was tension on Saturday at Idiroko, Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State when some Yoruba nation agitators stormed the area and forcefully opened its land border.

    They were, however, swiftly repelled by operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service who were manning the border town between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin.

    The land border had been closed by the Federal Government since 2019 when it directed that all forms of importation be done through the seaports.

    A video circulated on social media showed a gun being snatched away from an Immigration officer.

    In the 19-minute-and-23 -second video clip, a man in a yellow T-shirt can be seen shooting the gun into the air to the admiration of others at the scene.

    Different voices are heard in the video calling on soldiers and other security agents to come out and shoot.

    They destroyed the gates at the border, screaming, “We have opened the border at Idi-Iroko!”

    They also asked people to begin their importing business through the route.

    During the invasion, a young man, who was accused of trying to record the incident with his mobile phone, was attacked and beaten to a pulp.

    When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Customs Service, Ogun 1 Area Command, Hammed Oloyede, confirmed the incident.

    He, however, said the agitators were repelled.

    Denying attacks on any Customs officer, Oloyede said the situation was under control.

    “There was no attack on our patrol bases or checkpoints. Those guys were just doing their own. They tried to attack one patrol point, but it was repelled. The situation is under control. There is no problem,” he said.

    Meanwhile, the spokesman for the Yoruba nation agitation, Sunday Adeyemo, aka Sunday Igboho, in a video commended the actions of the agitators.

    He accused the Federal Government of shutting down the land borders in the South-West while those in the North were open.

  • Tinubu, Osoba, other South-West APC leaders kick against agitation for Yoruba Nation

    Tinubu, Osoba, other South-West APC leaders kick against agitation for Yoruba Nation

    The South-west leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have kicked against the agitation for a Yoruba nation.

    The leaders, who met in Lagos on Sunday, said they were not in support of the ethnic group’s break away from Nigeria.

    They also discussed the issue of insecurity facing the region and Nigeria as a whole.

    Those present at the meeting included leaders like Bola Tinubu, Olusegun Osoba, and Bisi Akande, among others.

    The six governors in the region were also said to be present at the meeting.

    According to the resolution obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, the APC leaders expressed their “strong opposition to separatist agitations and hate speeches. While urging those indulging in such to desist forthwith, they renewed their belief in the unity, stability and sustainability of the country.”

    They also supported the ban on open grazing by southern governors.

    The resolution came on the same day Governor Rotimi Akeredolu opposed the clamour for a Yoruba nation.

    Read full resolution below:

    1. The Leaders commiserate with and condole the President and Commander-in-Chief, President Muhammadu Buhari, the military authorities, families of the Chief of Army Staff and other officers who died, and indeed the entire nation over last Friday’s tragic plane crash in Kaduna.

    2. They express their strong opposition to separatist agitations and hate speeches. While urging those indulging in such to desist forthwith, they renew their belief in the unity, stability and sustainability of the country.

    3. We note with significant concern the security situation in the country. Terrorism and violent criminality threaten many areas, adversely affecting the lives and livelihoods of too many innocent and peace-loving Nigerians. While mindful of the resource and other constraints facing the nation, we urge the federal government to continue to make the necessary expenditures and allocate sufficient resources to enable the military and security agencies to tackle the difficult security challenges confronting us.

    4. For Nigeria to overcome these challenges, we must do so with unity of purpose and action. The desire for peace and the chance for a prosperous and just society is universal and transcends all regional, religious or ethnic divisions. Sadly, many public figures have made statements that spark division and undermine the needed unity of purpose. We urge government at all levels, security agencies, and public leaders across the country to do everything possible to prevent tension so that we sustain the necessary unity to defeat these challenges to our national security. All responsible Nigerians must speak and act in a manner that strengthens our common cause against these common threats to our collective peace, justice and development.

    5. We restate our abhorrence of violence as a means to achieve either political or economic power and influence. We strongly condemn violence of any form in any part of the country, regardless of ethnic or regional identity of the perpetrators of the violence or of the victims. Government must do all it can to protect potential victims and to assist those who have previously been victimised by terrorism or widespread banditry.

    6. We hold to the view that true federalism where more power and resources are allocated to the states will be an essential part in strengthening society and improving democratic governance so that we beat the present challenges but also engender durable peace and security. True federalism and the reallocation of resources and authority that comes with it will empower the states to solve localized issues before they spread and transform into national ones. In addition to mitigating political competition for control of the national government, greater federalism will empower grassroots economic development and political reforms that will stand as bulwarks against the terrorism and criminality now experienced in too many parts of the nation. A hallmark of this enhanced federalism will be the establishment of state police forces.

    7. We endorse the position of the Southern Governors taken at their May 11, 2021 summit in Asaba, Delta State, regarding ranching. We do so because such a decision will lessen tensions between farmers and herders while also helping the long-term economic viability of both the farming and herding communities. We are mindful of the short-term dislocation this might cause but are also mindful that this position is in the best interests of all parties concerned. We, therefore, recommend that the federal and state governments cooperate fully with each other to enact the necessary measures to encourage this more effective and modern method of cattle-rearing so that both farmers and herders can pursue their livelihoods with greater productivity and in a more cooperative relationship that minimises the friction between these two important pillars of our agricultural economy.

    8. We also thank traditional rulers for their important role in the polity and appeal to them to keep intervening to maintain peace and stability.

    9. And finally, we use the opportunity of the meeting to urge the Federal Government to provide, through the CBN, short, medium and long term financing for states and those who may wish to set up ranches as part of the agricultural sustainability policy.