Eko Hot Blog reports that a middle-aged woman, Modupe Onitiri-Abiola, who introduced herself as the widow of late Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola, the presumed winner of the 1993 presidential election in a video, has been accused of masterminding the invasion of the Oyo State Secretariat.
Recall that the state secretariat was invaded by armed men on Saturday and a shootout ensued between them and security agents.
The Nigerian Army, in a statement, said it arrested nine of the attackers, adding that troops were after the fleeing suspects.
In a video posted on social media, Ms. Onitiri-Abiola said she was declaring a Sovereign Democratic Republic of Yoruba, effective Friday, April 12, 2024.
“We are declaring this day that we are no longer part of this country. With the awesome power that God used to create the sky and seven clouds, moon and stars, I, Modupe Onitiri Abiola, proclaim the Democratic Republic of Yoruba,” she said.
“Yoruba has become a nation without any opposition. It is so, it is a declaration that God has caused to stay. Yoruba, today, April 12, 2024, begins as a sovereign nation and will operate as a country.”
Modupe Onitiri-Abiola
It was not immediately clear where she recorded the video from or whether security agencies have identified her as a suspect.
Meanwhile, some notable Yoruba Nation proponents, including Professor Banji Akintoye and Sunday Adeyemo, better known as Igboho, last night, dissociated themselves from Onitiri-Abiola and the group that invaded the secretariat.
The duo said they were not aware of such incident and didn’t give anyone the approval to carry out such an act.
Akintoye accused Onitiri-Abiola of being the mastermind of the invasion, denying that the invaders were fighting for the interest of the Yoruba.
“I am not connected, I have no contact and I do not know anything about Dupe Onitiri and her group. I don’t know what they are doing. I learnt they are engaged in some sort of insanity in Ibadan, and it has nothing to do with me or people like Chief Sunday Igboho, who are working with me,” he said.
“We are the authentic Yoruba Nation Movement. We are not connected or working with any Fulani to suppress the Yoruba in Nigeria. That is what Onitiri and the people who are behind them, who we now know have been working with the Fulani since the days of Babangida and Abacha time are doing.
“We are the people fighting for Yoruba Nation freedom, and we will win the war peacefully and in an orderly manner. They are not struggling for the Yoruba Nation; they are struggling against the Yoruba Nation. I am not aware of the situation that happened in Ibadan until I was informed by Chief Sunday Igboho this morning. I am not part of it. They are not from us. They are followers of Onitiri. It is a lunatic fringe. We, in this struggle, won’t act in such a manner.”
Reacting to the development, Igboho, on his part, said he would never be involved in such an act, stressing that anytime he intends to engage in any struggle, he ensures that important stakeholders are carried along.
Click below to watch our video of the week:
Deborah Elufisan, an Anchor University Student becomes a chartered accountant She has aced her ICAN…
Hudson Meek, a young actor in "Baby Driver," tragically died at 16. He succumbed to…
Asake, known by fans as "Mr. Money," has swiftly ascended the ranks within the Nigerian…