The Yoruba Self Determination Movement (YSDM) has vehemently denounced an alleged voice note attributed to Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, implicating Chief Sunday Adeyemo better known as Chief Sunday Igboho in the murder of former Oyo state governor and minister of Justice in Nigeria, Chief Bola Ige, and other wrongful deeds.
The voice note, which has gone viral on social media platforms, reportedly contains accusations against Igboho, including claims that he was involved in the assassination of Chief Bola Ige and is being manipulated by the President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu for personal gain. Furthermore, Igboho is accused of prioritizing his own interests over those of the Yoruba people.
In response to these allegations, the YSDM, under the leadership of Yoruba National Leader, Professor Banji Akintoye, held a press conference on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, where Moses Abiodun Ojo, the General Secretary of the organization, delivered a condemnation of the remarks.
“We view these allegations as deeply troubling and destructive to our collective cause,” remarked Ojo. “Chief (Dr.) Sunday Adeyemo, aka Sunday Igboho, is a stalwart leader in the movement for the emancipation of our Yoruba people from the existential threats we confront daily from terrorist Fulani herdsmen who are determined to take our homeland from us as they successfully did in the Hausa land of Northern Nigeria. We now view this Fulani agenda as the British grand plan to perpetually neo-colonize Nigeria for economic gains after independence.”
He continued, “Unfortunately, our Aare Onakakanfo, Iba Gani Adams, has been credited with making very sensitive, ugly, and murderous allegations against a fearless defender of the Yoruba people and a guardian of our national heritage. The voice notes of Iba Gani Adams have gone viral on social media, and it is destructive to the great and impeccable image of Chief (Dr.) Sunday Adeyemo, as well as detrimental to our Yoruba cause. Chief Sunday Igboho has championed the Yoruba freedom cause for several years at inestimable personal costs to his freedom, his businesses, his families, and his life.”
Expressing disappointment in Aare Onakakanfo’s alleged remarks, Ojo urged, “Iba Gani Adams’ position as the Aare Onakakanfo & Generalissimo of the Yorubas is expected to take charge of the struggle and join forces with Chief Sunday Igboho against our common enemy. We are disappointed that this is not the case today. The YSDM is hereby urging the Aare Onakakanfo, Iba Gani Adams, to retract those murderous allegations he erroneously made against Chief Sunday Igboho.
“We believe that this matter can be quickly resolved in-house but only after a public retraction. We want to embrace our Aare in brotherly love and in a public show of unity/force against the Fulanis and their imperialist backers. It is now within the discretion of the Aare to make this a positive turnaround for our people. His failure to retract the allegation against Chief Adeyemo will leave us no choice but to take appropriate legal and public actions to correct this falsehood.”
Furthermore, Otunba Ola Ademola, Vice President of the YSDM, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the importance of solidarity within the movement. “The YSDM stands united in condemning any statements that undermine the solidarity and integrity of our movement. We urge Aare Onakakanfo to retract these allegations within and join forces to move the Yoruba race forward.”
In another development, Sunday Igboho’s lawyer, J A Sanni, expressed outrage over the allegations, stating that he had advised Igboho to demand a retraction from Gani Adams or face legal consequences. “I was informed about the matter some days ago and became infuriated, which I told Chief Igboho that Gani Adams needs to retract his statements or face the music,” Sanni declared, condemning the damaging accusations against his client.