“I Chief Sunday Igboho, am issuing this press release in response to the planned protests by some unknown and faceless individuals, who are working to disintegrate the country,” Igboho stated in a statement released on Monday night, July 29.
“Since taking office on May 29, 2023, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has carried out revolutionary measures that his predecessors lacked the political fortitude to execute.
“It is not unexpected that individuals who feel they have a right to dominate Nigeria from birth are disturbed by these audacious actions. In response, there have been efforts to destabilize his regime, especially on social media, in an effort to sow division between the populace and the government.
“Unknown persons have been threatening ’10 days of wrath’ starting August 1, 2024, with the motto ‘Tinubu Must Go!’ We have recently become aware of these notices.
“Our constitution guarantees the right to peaceful protest, but it does not cover calls for the overthrow of an unlawful government. It is important to remember that, despite the persecution and atrocities committed against our people by Fulani terrorists, there were no such protests calling for a change in government from the Southwest throughout President Buhari’s eight years in office.
“Our protests were aimed at preventing national instability, not at defending our neighborhoods.”It is my unequivocal declaration, together with the Yoruba Nation Movement, that we will not take part in any demonstration intended to turn the Southwest into a theater of political conflict.
“We are adamant that the Yoruba nation will not serve as a springboard for Nigeria’s disintegration. We acknowledge that financial difficulty is not exclusive to Nigeria but rather a worldwide issue.
“I have traveled much around Europe, the Middle East, West Africa, and North America since my release from the unlawful arrest that was organized by former President Buhari and his then-attorney general of the federation, Abubakar Malami.
“People are having difficulties everywhere, and governments are putting palliatives in place to help them. The administration of PBAT Nigeria has raised the minimum salary from 30,000 to 70,000 and implemented policies to lower food prices, indicating a commitment to enhancing the lives of the working class.
Let’s get one thing straight: the demonstration has political motivations. We demand that well-meaning Nigerians and all Yorubas oppose this campaign. Any demonstration of any kind is categorically opposed by the Yoruba Nation.
“President Tinubu should be permitted to serve out his entire term in office, just like President Buhari.” A referendum or the voting booth are two democratic channels via which change can be enacted. It will have to wait until the next elections in 2027 for those who want change.
We implore our members and the public at large to resist the inclination to take part in these protests, since they are not in the best interests of the Yoruba people or the country at large.
“We also want to make it clear that we will not back down from anyone or any organization trying to incite violence in the name of these protests. They are sternly admonished to avoid Yorubaland’s streets on the days set aside for protest as well as going forward. It’s better to be prepared than unprepared.
