Yoruba Nation: We don’t regret our actions — Defiant suspects

One of the suspects of the Yoruba Nation agitators that invaded the Oyo State House of Assembly and Governor’s office, on Saturday, Ademola Adeniyi, said he didn’t regret his action.

Adeniyi, a 29-year-old phone repairer, said, “We all know that nothing is working in Nigeria and things are hard for everyone except those in government. We were at the Secretariat waiting for our leader to come and address us.

We believe our leader knows much about the law and so we are not afraid to join when we were called upon. Our leaders told us that all challenges Yoruba are facing shall be addressed if we achieve our aim.

Another suspect, Ayanwale Rofiayat, disclosed that those who sponsored the invasion, promised to put an end to starvation in her life.

This came as the Oyo State Government, yesterday, described the invasion as treasonable.

Recall that some self-acclaimed Yoruba Nation agitators hoisted their flag on the building housing the state House of Assembly last Saturday.

The woman suspect was among other 20 suspects paraded by the Oyo State Police Command, Eleyele in Ibadan.

Other items were displayed by the police. They include two security jackets, 30 pieces of torchlights, 49 bells, 5 horse tails, 7 pieces of walkie-talkies, two photographs of Modupe Onitiri Abiola, 261 belts, 12 Yoruba Nation flags, one Oodua Nation coat of arms, 405 live cartridges, 72 pairs of camouflage uniforms and others.

Speaking while being paraded, Rofiat said, “I’m from Igbo Ora in the Ibarapa zone of the state. The sponsors promised me and my entire family that they would empower us and that our future would be assured. Starvation would no longer be in our lives and that cost of living would automatically come down.”

She explained where they got the foreign military camouflage from saying, “The Army camouflage attire on me was given to me and other members when we converged on Ibadan before moving to the Secretariat.”

Another suspect, Mr Alabi Ogundeji, who is a 55-year-old lecturer at a Federal College of Education, said the membership of the Yoruba movement is spread across all Yoruba-speaking states.

Ogundeji said, “Our leaders went to all Yoruba-speaking states to serve officials letters written and we were given our copies.

“Then the proclamation was made and after the declaration, occupation, and notification to the world that Yoruba is an indigenous nation.”

Also, a septuagenarian, who was among the suspects, Mr Peter Adeyemo, had denied being a member noting that, he and his daughter went to Itamerin Market to buy some items and on their way back, they saw people gathered and inquired from a policeman, but was later rough-handled and arrested.

On the charms and amulets found on his body, Adeyemo, a furniture carpenter from Iwere Ile in the Ibarapa zone of Oyo State, admitted that he and his daughter were given some insignias including a flag found in possession of the daughter.