The Oodua Peoples Congress has warned the Federal Government against a plan to clampdown on Yoruba Nation agitation.
The group in a statement by its publicity secretary, Barrister Yinka Oguntimehin, said such a plan could lead to a national crisis.
In the statement, the group flayed the Federal Government’s approach in Igboho’s ordeals, maintaining that the use and application of force on self-determination agitators has only justified the Muhammadu Buhari-led government’s lack of respect for human rights and intolerance to the views of others.
It also described the treatment meted out to Igboho in Nigeria and also in Cotonou as very unpleasant, insisting that the Federal Government ought to know that the citizens have rights and that such rights must be protected under the law.
Oguntimehin said, “Unfolding events have shown that there are lapses in the way the FG handles cases of self-determination agitators like Sunday Igboho, and I will like to state it clearly that the FG must desist from clampingdown on self-determination agitators because such move can only fuel national crisis.”
OPC, however, urged the Republic of Benin to be fair with Igboho. Noting that the rights activist will be facing immigration-related offences in the country, he added that Igboho can also seek asylum to ensure his safety.
He said, “The FG has been silent on the extradition order because it might trigger more crisis. You cannot treat Igboho the Nnamdi Kanu way, it would not work, so I am appealing to the FG to learn from history and ensure that the fundamental human rights of the citizens are protected in such a way that we can begin to appreciate the fact that we truly follow the tenets of democracy.”
It also said the Federal Government have no right to extradite Igboho to Nigeria under the law.
Oguntimehin said, “What Federal Government came up with were mere allegations against Ighoho such as trafficking in arms and inciting violence that could result in the social disturbance without evidence and the Government of Benin Republic had considered all that to be untenable and insufficient to warrant extradition.
“The case has been adjourned till Monday 26th July to allow the Federal Government bring up whatever evidence they may have, and Mr. lgboho has been taken back to the police custody.”