A Yoruba pressure group, under the aegis of the Agbekoya Parapo has called for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra.
This is even as the group expressed strong support for the administration of President Bola Tinubu barring the economic hardship being faced just as it called for a recourse to the 2014 National Confab, restructuring, and return to regional government in line with the demands by self determination groups across the various sections of the country.
The Agbekoya Parapo also harped on the need to address the logjams in the country’s education system, while calling for creation of State Police.
The group spoke in a communique released by its National President, Aare Adekunle Oshodi, in the presence of its National Chairman, Prof. Ademola Onibonokuta; the Secretary General, Chief Kunle Adelakun Eruobodo, and others at the National Secretariat in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Tuesday, June 25.
The communique, which lamented the current economic hardship in Nigeria, alleging that the Northern oligarchy was working at cross purposes to the agenda of the current administration, read in part: “We have been paying attention to the economic and political situation of the country since the inception of the administration of President Bola Tinubu, over the past one year. We are watching carefully so as to know whether we are on the right path of history or not.
“We are not happy at the situation of things in the country but we only hope that the pilot of this administration will take the bull by the horn in dealing with most of the challenges we are currently facing, most especially at the economic front.
“Inflation is beyond economic scale with the removal of fuel subsidy without post subsidy plan which could have cushioned the adverse effect of the government policy on the poor Nigerians.
“The country witnessed the maladministration and the incompetence of former president Muhammadu Buhari for eight years. We have also witnessed the political and the economic policies of Buhari and how he favored the North at the detriment of other zones in the distribution of nation’s wealth. We have also seen how corruption became the order of the day during Buhari regime.
“The same Buhari has become a bride and rallying symbol for the Northern elites and their political figures. Daura has become a political Mecca for former Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, while the killer of democracy and its values, General Ibrahim Babangida, is now the one embraced by the Northern ruling class. It’s so sad that people could easily forget the past historical facts and events so quick.
“With nepotism of highest level and the bastardization of democratic norms and setting, Buhari brought governance to its knees without any consideration for other regions of the country forgetting that he was setting a bad precedent. The political elites of the North kept mute throughout Buhari’s eight-year-tenure. Everything Buhari did was normal to the northerners or should we say the Fulani oligarchy.
“Now, the same political elites of the North have started criticizing the infant administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. And presently, they are plotting against his administration either to remove him or block his second term ambition having forgotten that Tinubu stood by Buhari even at the odd hours during his administration.
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“The question now is that: is that how the northern political elites or Fulani oligarchy would pay back a trustful, honest and genuine loyalist? It was obvious that the All Progressives Congress chieftains and Northern elites with the exception of a few, worked against President Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election. But, certainly no one can stop destiny. The almighty God proved Himself!
“We have carefully watched with keen interest and we have seen that the Northern political leaders are obsessed and they hate President Bola Tinubu with passion. And they never expected a true and genuine Yoruba to ever become a Nigeria president.
“We recall their utterances and hostility against late Chief MKO Abiola (who did everything he could to satisfy their greed) during the June 12 election and the annulment of the election by northern elites and Fulani oligarchy, led by Gen. Babangida (retd.). This same behavior was also meted to Chief Obafemi Awolowo in the 1979 and 1983 presidential elections.”
The group said: “Now, the truth must be told. Nigeria belongs to every Nigerian and there shouldn’t be a first, second or third class citizen. We must be equal. We cannot continue living in denial. Maybe, it’s high time we have to re evaluate our union or renegotiate the contract that brought us together before and after independence. You can fool people sometimes but you cannot fool people all the time.
“There are prevailing issues to be addressed such as the 1999 Constitution; the 2014 National Confab, Restructuring, Regional Government and Agitation of self determination by various sections of the country, most especially the Biafra, Niger Delta and Oduduwa Republic. Also, other issues that need urgent discussion are: Clash of interest in our education system, (where two systems are being used, one for the North and one for the South); State Police and judiciary where there are always collusions.
“If these cogent issues are brushed aside, then the life span of Nigeria might not last. It is a natural thing that people must accept who they are and who they want to relate or associate with, and who to represent them in accordance with social contract. It is a globally accepted principle.
“We, the Agbekoya Parapo, are appealing to the administration of President Bola Tinubu to, for the sake of peace and stability, look into all these issues being raised thoroughly, examine and address it appropriately.
“We also appeal to the Federal Government to temper with justice and release the incarcerated Biafran leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and other detained freedom fighters and agitators. We also appeal to the South-West governors to venture into sustainable food production via mechanized farming across the region.
“We will not mind to be a partner in ensuring agricultural productivity and security and protection of lives of our farmlands and farmers. We welcome the ranching system of the old Western Nigeria during the good old days of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Chief Akintola era.
“We also appeal to our Obas and Yoruba groups and their leaders to support the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu the same way the northern political elites supported former President Muhammadu Buhari throughout his eight years as president of Nigeria.”
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