The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi Ojaja II, has revealed what the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) told him about embattled Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo before his arrest in Cotonou.
Fondly called Sunday Igboho, the self-styled activist was arrested by security operatives in Cotonou, Benin Republic, for immigration offences while trying to flee to Germany.
His arrest on July 16, 2021, comes weeks after the Department of State Services raise his residence in Ibadan, Oyo State on July 1.
While Igboho remains in the neighbouring country, the Ooni in an interview with BBC Yoruba revealed that Buhari advised him to caution Igoho before his arrest.
He said: “Like I have always told the government, they should have called the agitators for a dialogue
“God will stay with Sunday Igboho, he grew up in Ife, all that he has become today, started from Ife. Ife and Modakeke all belong to Ife land. He is a son of the soil.
“But how he started, he wanted to fight for his kinsmen where he came from. He stood up and fought for those killed in Oke Ogun. We thank God for preserving his life. He tried his best but when he started receiving different advice from people, it overwhelmed him.
“I visited President Buhari on his case and we discussed it. I told him that Igboho is our son, he advised us to warn him to stay calm and exercise patience but Igboho did not listen.
“Many people advised him wrongly. He listened to them. He started abusing everyone, including monarchs.
“After I left President Buhari’s place, I called on monarchs and elders of Yoruba land for a meeting to advise Igboho to exercise patience but he got carried away by the praises of those who were not even solidly behind him.
“He hurled so many bad words but he is still our son. God owns forgiveness. We’ve forgiven him. If he had listened, he wouldn’t have found himself in his current travail.
“We are trying our best to secure his release. Who can fight with the government? You’ve to be smart and use your senses to get your rights from the government, not by shouting.”
