Professor Soyinka visits Igboho in Cotonou

May 2, 2022 by Admin Leave a Comment

By THE GUARDIAN Kehinde Olatunji

The leader of the Yoruba Self-Determination Groups, Ilana Omo Oodua, Prof. Banji Akintoye (right); Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, known as Sunday Igboho; Prof. Wole Soyinka and a guest during Soyinka’s visit to Igboho in Cotonou, Benin Republic

Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, yesterday, travelled to Cotonou, Benin Republic, to visit Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho.

He was seen at the Seme border around noon crossing to Cotonou, the capital city of Benin Republic, where he was ‘mobbed’ by a crowd while waiting to complete immigration formalities. He was repeatedly asked where he was headed. His response was that he was on a visit to the Yoruba Nation activist, Sunday Igboho to “break the Muslim fast with him.”

Reminded that neither he nor Ighoho was a Muslim, he asserted that it made no difference. He said he had wished to see Igboho, so as to sympathise with his predicament.

“Ramadan is as good as any other season to express non-denominational solidarity,” added the literary icon. Igboho was arrested in Cotonou on July 20, 2021, while trying to flee to Germany as the Nigerian government had declared him wanted. He was arrested with his wife, Ropo, who was later released.

Igboho spent eight months in prison before he was released by the Benin Republic government, but he is not allowed to leave the country. Igboho had been at the forefront of agitation for the Yoruba Nation in Nigeria until his house was invaded by the Department of State Services (DSS) in Ibadan. He managed to flee while some of his aides were killed and others arrested.

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