Law

Igbono’s offence was resistance to tyranny, release him now, insists Soyinka

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The continued detention of Yoruba Nation agitator Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho has been frowned at as his only offence was resisting the tyranny of herdsmen against his people in Oyo State.

The Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, made the clearifications at an interactive session with journalists in Lagos on Friday where he called on the government of the Republic of Benin to set Igboho free.

At the interactive session titled, “Sanctions on the loose: Chasing the gnat with a sledgehammer,” Soyinka said Igboho’s offence was resisting tyranny of herdsmen against his people in Oyo State.

The playwright said: “I refuse to believe that Igboho committed any offence except agitating against tyranny on his people. He peacefully demonstrated his position. I can’t consider that to be decided a criminal. Agitating for secession is not a criminal act as long as it’s done peacefully. You don’t have to criminalise that.

“What the government and the security did by raiding Igboho’s house in the middle of the night, killing two of his own people and claiming, without a warrant or anything, that they found weapons… who’s going to believe that cock and bull story?”

He also queried the government of Benin Republic on why they are keeping Igboho. He said: “Why are you keeping this victim? What offence did he commit against your state that you’re holding him, instead of letting him continue his journey? He has not committed any offence against any known law in this country.

“Declaring an independent state is not out of our constitution. Since he’s doing it peacefully and collectively within the law, you do not criminalise that action.”

Speaking further on the query issued Channels Television by the National Broadcast Commission (NBC), the noble laureate emphasised, “who decides media professionalism? It is one of outstanding semi-illiterate official queries that I have ever seen. And I wish to exalt the media that they have their official bodies with symbolic gestures.

“I think we have the responsibility to tell the government that if any media institution is sanctioned on this kind of trivial, absolute ground, we will fulfill our responsibility by mobilising the nation to boycott all government media and we shall wage the media war against the government.

“Decree no 4 has no place in a democracy and it is high time we manifested that, both in language and in act.

“The president seems deaf about the agitations and plights of Nigerians. What I suggest is that youths, and citizens especially, should take the situations into their hands by using any of the civil actions to ensure the government listens to them and correct the problems in Nigeria.”

Meanwhile, lawyer to the 12 detained associates of the Yoruba Nation advocate, Pelumi Olajengbesi, has threatened to commence contempt charge against the Director General of the State Security Services (SSS), Yusuf Magaji Bichi for the agency’s alleged failure to comply with an order of court for the release of his clients.

Speaking in Abuja on Friday, Olajengbesi said the legal team handling the case has decided to give the SSS authorities up till Monday to release the detainees, failing which the team would return to court to initiate the contempt proceedings.

Olajengbesi, who was particularly bitter about the condition of the only female among the detainees – Mrs. Amudat Babatunde (Lady K) – who, he said, was denied the opportunity to change her clothes since her arrest on July 1 and has also been subjected to other forms of dehumanising treatment.

He explained that his clients had last week met the conditions attached to the bail granted them by Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja,following which the judge signed their release warrant on Monday.