Leader of Afenifere, Yoruba socio-political group identified as Ayo Adebanjo has stated that the federal government has no right to seek Sunday Igboho’s extradition from Benin Republic.
Reacting to the arrest, the Afenifere leader called on God to deal with President Buhari.
This is coming weeks after Sunday Igboho was declared “wanted” by the Department of State Services (DSS), Benin Republic’s security forces arrested him in Cotonou while he was trying to flee to Germany.
Nigerian authorities have been pushing for the extradition of the Yoruba nation agitator from the Francophone country.
Igboho’s arrest has generated reactions from prominent voices in Nigeria, especially from the south-western part of the country.
The Agbekoya Farmers Society said it “is ready to fight for Igboho’s freedom” while demanding that “nothing must happen to him”.
On Thursday, in a chat with Arise TV, Adebanjo added his voice to the stream of reactions.
He described Igboho as a “political prisoner”, and said the federal government has “no right” to seek his extradition.
The 93-year-old Afenifere leader said Nigerian authorities are only terrified of Igboho’s popularity, saying “the-power-that-be wants to kill him because he’s leading a popular revolt”.
He then said, “Buhari may depend on chariots and everything, but we have God. And we call on our God to deal with Buhari”.
“He [Igboho] is a political refugee. He didn’t commit any crime here. He didn’t waylaid or kill anybody. He didn’t run away from anybody after committing a crime. He ran for his life because the-power-that-be wants to kill him because of his agitation. Because he’s leading a popular revolt,” Adebanjo said.
“When they see the crowd that Igboho is pulling at every meeting, that is what is terrifying them. Can Buhari summon the crowd that Igboho is summoning each time he holds a meeting, even with the fact that he [Buhari] gives money to who will attend the meeting, that is a rented crowd?”
“You’re looking for somebody’s life, and you ask him to come and surrender himself. Who will do that? He has muzzled everybody: the press can’t talk, and there is a limit to questions that broadcasters can ask now without them closing the station. Keeping everybody quiet. But I tell you, Buhari may depend on chariots and everything, but we have God. And we call on our God to deal with Buhari. Because we are helpless, and he has all the ammunition of power. “