From Segun Amure
Popular O’odua freedom fighter, Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Igboho, on Thursday played host to Chief Femi Fani Kayode, former Aviation Minister in his Ibadan residence.
The meeting which lasted for 3 hours calls for peace and the need to urgently put an end to insecurity in the land.
Speaking after the meeting, Igboho said that all he wanted in Yoruba land is peace, an immediate end to banditry and protection of lives and properties for the people.
His words: “I don’t have anything to say for now, my uncle (Fani-Kayode) has said everything for me. What we want in Yorubaland is peace. We don’t want banditry, we don’t want Fulani herdsmen to continue to kill our people, we want our people to be free.
“My message to my people in Yorubaland is that they must try to defend themselves. Don’t let anyone come to your farm or your home to kill you, you must try to defend yourself, which was what the minister said too.”
On his part, Fani-Kayode, lauded the effort of Igboho against Fulani herdsmen in the region.
Reacting to the statement credited to Bauchi State Governor, Fani-Kayode said, “A good friend of mine, the Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed. We served together as ministers, and said a few days ago that Fulani herdsmen should be given the right to carry AK-47. I disagree with that but that was his opinion and, like I told him, he is entitled to his opinion and he can voice it.
“If you go by that principle, then it makes absolute sense that if Fulani are allowed to carry AK-47 to defend their cows and their lives if they feel threatened, then it is also logical for members of the local communities, farmers and each and every one of us should also have that right to defend ourselves against killer Fulani herdsmen and against those that are coming to kill us and rape our women.”
Speaking further on if guns should be given to citizens for self protection, Fani-Kayode said, “I am totally and completely behind that and I will like that very much. Why not? We are responsible and decent people, the Americans have that right, it is enshrined in their constitution and if it is also that we could carry arms, perhaps we won’t have the kind of atrocities that are being committed throughout the country and not just throughout the South, even in the North itself.
“I must tell you, it is unbelievable what is going in terms of these killers killing members of the local population.
“Perhaps that is one way to solve the problem, but the best way is for the government itself to rise up and do something about it. That is what we are paying them for, that is what they are there to do, let’s hope they do it and so we don’t have to do it ourselves.”
More so, the former Aviation Minister said his visit is to appreciate the efforts and courage of Mr. Igboho against insecurity and issues that have threatened the peace in Yoruba land.
His statement reads, “My purpose is to come and stand side by side, shoulder by shoulder with someone I have immense respect for. He has shown the world and most importantly, he has shown Yoruba people that we are not cowards, we are not people who can be pushed around, we are not people who can be pillaged, killed and raped, and those that perpetrate this crime feel at ease in our land.” He said
Fani-Kayode added, “So, I have come to express my appreciation and solidarity with somebody that I believe has done the right thing without violating any laws in this country because that is very important. I don’t believe he has done that.”
“I believe it is right and proper for every Yoruba leader to show appreciation for the lives he has saved and for his pursuits of people that have been committing crimes, that is the first purpose.
“The second purpose is also to let him know that his message of peace and unity, that is to say, he has nothing against Fulani people but he has everything against criminals that come to our forest in this part of the country to kill, those are his enemies, those are the people that are our collective enemies and that is what he is fighting against and there is nothing unlawful in that.”
Confirming the meeting, the Ile-Ife-born politician and lawyer on twitter disclosed that the meeting was fruitful.
His tweet reads, “I had a wonderful lunch and a very fruitful and productive meeting with my friend and brother Chief Sunday Adeyemo (aka Sunday Igboho) in his beautiful Ibadan home today. He is truly impressive and very passionate. May God be with him, his family, and his entire household.”
