Sunday Igboho Dismisses Sowore's Criticism as Irrelevant to Yoruba Security Agenda
Yoruba nation activist Sunday Adeyemo, widely known as Sunday Igboho, has firmly rejected recent comments by rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, labeling them as irrelevant to his core mission. In a statement issued on Tuesday, Igboho asserted that Sowore's characterization of his activism as "transactional politics" is a misrepresentation that distracts from pressing security issues in Nigeria's South-West region.
Defending Constitutional Rights and Security Focus
Through his Media Aide, Olayomi Koiki, Igboho clarified that his support for President Bola Tinubu's potential second-term bid in 2027 and his agitation for improved security are exercises of his inalienable constitutional rights. He emphasized that these actions are rooted in promoting the collective interests of the Yoruba people and fostering Nigeria's healthy development, rather than any political maneuvering.
The statement specifically addressed a viral video where Sowore reportedly described Igboho's approach as "amala politics," a term implying transactional or self-serving political behavior. Igboho dismissed this as an inconsequential rant that the public should ignore, arguing that it overlooks the genuine grassroots security concerns driving his movement.
Rejecting Characterization of Activism
"We strongly reject the characterization of Igboho's activism as transactional," the statement read. "Such a myopic position misrepresents the intent and focus of our agitation on effective grassroots security in the South-West, and Nigeria as a whole." Igboho questioned Sowore's own credibility, pointing to alleged daily lodging expenses of N450,000 at a Lagos hotel as contradictory to claims of fighting for the masses.
He further asserted his right to make independent political decisions, stating, "I cannot be compelled to endorse political figures such as Peter Obi or Atiku Abubakar, or even align with Sowore's political platform. I have the right to make independent political decisions based on the security and collective interests of the Yoruba people."
Core Issues: Insecurity in Yorubaland
Igboho's advocacy, as outlined in the statement, prioritizes addressing severe insecurity in Yorubaland, which includes persistent violence such as the killing of farmers, kidnappings along highways, and attacks on traditional rulers and royal institutions. Koiki noted that these concerns form the foundation of Igboho's movement, rather than any ambition for political office or revolutionary leadership.
Sowore's Comparison with Nnamdi Kanu
Meanwhile, Sowore had previously commented on the differing fates of Igboho and detained separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu. He suggested that Kanu's continued detention is largely due to his refusal to accept certain conditions allegedly accepted by Igboho, relating to their interactions with the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu.
Sowore remarked, "Nnamdi Kanu is in jail today because he's different from Sunday Igboho. If Kanu were like Sunday Igboho, he would be campaigning for President Tinubu in the South-East now. Because it's the same terms they gave to Igboho that Kanu rejected over the last 10 years." This comparison, according to Sowore, was reinforced during a recent interaction with Kanu, highlighting divergent political approaches between the two figures.
In summary, Igboho's response underscores a steadfast commitment to security issues and constitutional rights, while dismissing external criticisms as irrelevant to his grassroots agenda.
