To Obasanjo, a Yoruba group says, “Ignore the Igboho issue and stand for a united Nigeria.”

A socio-cultural group, Yoruba for One Nigeria Forum (YONF), has asked former President Olusegun Obasanjo to clear his name following reports that he is lobbying the Benin Republic to protect Sunday Adeyemo, better known as Igboho, from prosecution.

In a statement signed by Seun Adebayo Lawal, the group’s national president, titled “Olusegun Obasanjo is the greatest beneficiary of Nigeria’s Unity,” the group said the call was necessary because of the significant benefits the former president and the Yoruba nation as a whole have reaped from a united Nigeria.

“Our organization has been alerted to media reports that former President Olusegun Obasanjo is on a mission in Benin Republic to protect Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Igboho, who is currently facing multiple criminal charges in the country and is on the DSS wanted list in Nigeria. “Recall that the self-described violent agitator has been on the run since the Department of State Services invited him,” the group said.

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“While we hope that this unpatriotic act is untrue, we expect the former President to make a clear statement on the allegations so that Nigerians are aware of his position. This is significant because of the potential for misunderstandings as a result of his silence on the subject. As a native Yoruba indigenous organization, we believe that Obasanjo’s alleged move should be censored in order to set the record straight for posterity and history.

“In its current form, Nigerian history records the Yoruba people as the greatest beneficiaries of the country’s unity since independence. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo is a Yoruba man who, ironically, has reaped the greatest benefits from Nigeria’s unity. Obasanjo is the only Nigerian of pure Yoruba ancestry to have ever ruled the country, both militarily and politically. What else could Nigeria have given him and the Yoruba people? What were the Yoruba nation’s dues that Obasanjo could not pay during his time as President and Head of State? He doesn’t need to be reminded of the importance of Nigeria’s unity in his rise to power, both as a military and civilian President; therefore, the least he owes this country is to preach peace, promote, and advocate for a single, united, and inseparable Nigeria.

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“If Obasanjo truly wants to build a sustainable and united Nigeria, he should put his international contacts to work for the Nigerian State and its people. Patriotic Nigerians will not forgive Obasanjo or any other group for attempting to sabotage legitimate efforts by the Nigerian government to ensure that Igboho is brought to justice. “As a Yoruba indigenous group, we will not look the other way when those who have profited from Nigeria’s unity turn to sabotage government peace efforts,” the group added. We urge former President Olusegun Obasanjo to use his international influence to promote the country’s unity. After all, he received those benefits as a result of Nigeria’s unity.”

“Perhaps it is too late for anyone in former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s echelon to consider a divided Nigeria at this time. As a result, we must issue this Clarion Call to all Yoruba indigenous people to show solidarity with the Nigerian government in order to realize the long-awaited dream of a united, peaceful, and prosperous Nigeria,” it said.