By Oluwole Ige
Against the backdrop of the judicial travails facing the embattled Yoruba nation activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Ighoho in Cotonou, some Yoruba traditional rulers in the Benin Republic, on Sunday, met to brainstorm on how they can muster support to assist him, Tribune Online authoritatively gathered.
There is a large concentration of Yoruba speaking communities in the Benin Republic, with almost two million people of Yoruba descent in the West African country, colonised by French.
Credible sources informed our correspondent that the Yoruba kings met in Adjohoun, a town over 60 kilometres away from Cotonou, to discuss the arrest and prosecution of Igboho.
The monarchs, Kings, who were of the view that they are brothers with Sunday Igboho, who was arrested last week Monday in Cotonou, are exploring ways to help the activist who is wanted in Nigeria.
One of the traditional rulers present at the meeting hosted by Alajohoun of Adjohoun was Alajashe of Ajase from Port Novo, alongside his counterpart from Seme.
The court of appeal sitting in Cotonou will continue hearing the case by the Federal Government of Nigeria against Igboho, who has been held in Benin for nearly seven days.
Meanwhile, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, has sent a delegation to Cotonou, Benin Republic to observe the proceedings of the court case involving Chief Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho.
Oba Adetunji, who did not disclose the identity of the delegation on Sunday hinted that those to observe the court proceedings where Sunday Igboho will be facing trial would be in court unfailingly tomorrow today (Monday)
In a statement forwarded to the Nigerian Tribune by his media aide, the traditional ruler was quoted to have made this disclosure while exchanging views with some leaders of thought comprising the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes President General, Prince Yemisi Adeaga, first vice President General, Dr Tirimisiyu Oladimeji; Ekefa Olubadan, Senior Chief Lekan Alabi; Ajia Olubadan, Chief Wasiu Aderoju Alaadorin; Mogaji Makusota and Professor Oluwasegun Adekunle
According to Oba Adetunji, it has become necessary in order to allay the fears of several people including protesters who besiege Olubadan palace every now and then that Kabiesi is not folding his arms over the travails of Sunday Igboho and his co-travellers.
Said he “Sunday Igboho lives in Ibadan, got married in Ibadan, rear children in Ibadan, built houses in Ibadan and as such he has the rights to be protected by Ibadan Traditional Institution within the ambit of the law just like any human being in Ibadan.
Oba Adetunji, who stated that he was in constant touch with Yoruba prominent royal fathers, including Igboho royal crown allayed public fears of a repeat performance of the Yoruba-Fulani coalition of 1814. According to Oba Adetunji, students of Nigerian history may wish to be reminded that when some people during the period under reference chose to engage in territorial expansion to the sea, it took the Ibadan army under Balogun Oderinlo to repel the attack and stop the incursion near Osogbo.
He, however, urged the people to remain calm and law-abiding as truth will prevail.
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