Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has denied the claim by Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, that Yoruba nation agitators have the support of the governor.
The Yoruba activist, was quoted to have during a rally of his group, agitating for an independent Yoruba nation in Akure, the Ondo State capital, claimed that Akeredolu was in support of their activities.
“The governor (Akeredolu) is aware of these things we are doing, we have his support. We are no more under the Fulani. All we want is Yoruba nation,” Igboho was quoted to have said.
But in his response, Akeredolu, who is the Chairman of the South-West Governors’ Forum, debunked the claim.
In a statement on Sunday signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olatunde and titled, ‘Yoruba Nation Agitators on Their Own —Akeredolu’, the governor said he was not in support of the separatist group.
The statement read: “It has come to the knowledge of the Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, that some group of persons who held a rally under the cover of what they term ‘secessionist agitations’ in Akure, on Saturday, May 22, 2021, erroneously claimed to have had his support for the rally.
“Governor Akeredolu wishes to state clearly that while he acknowledges the right of individuals and groups to hold peaceful rallies, it must not be misconstrued to mean support for secessionist agenda and or balkanization of the nation. Far from it.
“Unequivocally, the Governor’s opinion on the Akure rally or any other of its ilk, is only to the effect that he is not opposed to any civil protest which is not in breach of the extant laws of the Nation. He neither believes, nor supports the quest for the Yoruba Nation outside of Nigeria in the manner canvassed. Governor Akeredolu stands by a virile, united and indivisible Nigeria as demanded by the Southern Governors’ Forum.
“Therefore, the vigour, zeal, leadership and candour displayed by Governor Akeredolu for a just and fair Nigeria is altruistic, and borne out of patriotism for the Nation as well as love for his people, the Yoruba ethnic nationality.
“It is important, therefore, to state without any equivocation that the Yoruba Nation secessionist promoters do not enjoy any lending hand in Governor Akeredolu.”