Indications emerged at the weekend that the six South-West governors held, among others, a telephone conference with President Muhammadu Buhari, with a view to giving detained Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Igboho, a soft-landing.
Igboho, whose trial in Benin Republic has reached a second stage, is also reportedly being maltreated as his lawyer revealed he was still in handcuffs, in prison custody.
A source close to one of the South-West governors revealed to First News that the governors urged Buhari to interface with the Beninoise authorities, to drop charges against the embattled activist.
“As part of the deal, the governors are actually looking at the possibility of extraditing Igboho, dropping treason charges against him, and making him to reach peace agreement with the federal government.
“Same way, they are urging for similar terms in respect of the ongoing trial of leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu,” the source, who craved anonymity owing to the sensitivity of the issue, revealed.
Lagos State governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, attested much to this on Saturday when he also said “people are working behind the scenes”, regarding the travail of Igboho.
Sanwo-Olu spoke when he addressed the press at the 019 Ward 08, Ikoyi II polling unit where he cast his vote during the Local Government/Council Areas election.
Before his latest reaction, governors of the South-West had been accused of keeping silence on the trial of the activist.
But, at the poll, a journalist asked the Lagos State governor why the governors had refused to comment on Igboho’s travail.
Replying, he said, “These are very difficult times for all of us. I can assure you that people are working behind the scenes.
“At occasions like this, it’s not by how many press people you call.
“I’m aware that a lot of people have responses that they are doing quietly and privately and it doesn’t have to be a public conversation.”