Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has denied the claim that he is in support of a Yoruba nation.
He, however, declared his commitment to a virile, united, and indivisible Nigeria as demanded by the Southern Governors’ Forum.
The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Richard Olatunde, made Governor Akeredolu’s position known in a statement on Sunday following a rally in Akure, the state capital.
According to Olatunde, some group of persons who participated in the rally held on Saturday claimed to have had the governor’s support for the march in which they were calling for Yoruba nation.
He explained that the governor’s action of acknowledging the right of individuals and groups to hold peaceful rallies was misconstrued to mean support for the secessionist agenda, stressing that it was far from it.
The governor’s aide stated that his principal’s opinion on the rally in Akure was only to prove that he was not opposed to any civil protest that does not breach the laws of the land.
He insisted that Governor Akeredolu, who is also the Chairman of the South-West Governors’ Forum, never supported the quest for Yoruba nation outside of Nigeria, adding that the secessionist promoters do not enjoy any backing of the governor.
At the rally, a Yoruba rights activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, was reported to have said Governor Akeredolu was aware and in support of their agitation for Yoruba nation.
Read the full statement from the governor’s aide below:
Yoruba Nation Agitators On Their Own – Akeredolu
It has come to the knowledge of the Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, that some group of persons who held a rally under the cover of what they term ‘secessionist agitations’ in Akure, on Saturday, May 22, 2021, erroneously claimed to have had his support for the rally.
Governor Akeredolu wishes to state clearly that while he acknowledges the right of individuals and groups to hold peaceful rallies, it must not be misconstrued to mean support for secessionist agenda and or balkanisation of the nation. Far from it.
Unequivocally, the Governor’s opinion on the Akure rally or any other of its ilk, is only to the effect that he is not opposed to any civil protest which is not in breach of the extant laws of the nation.
He neither believes nor supports the quest for the Yoruba nation outside of Nigeria in the manner canvassed.
Governor Akeredolu stands by a virile, united, and indivisible Nigeria as demanded by the Southern Governors’ Forum.
Therefore, the vigour, zeal, leadership, and candour displayed by Governor Akeredolu for a just and fair Nigeria is altruistic and borne out of patriotism for the nation, as well as love for his people, the Yoruba ethnic nationality.
It is important, therefore, to state without any equivocation that the Yoruba nation secessionist promoters do not enjoy any lending hand in Governor Akeredolu.
Signed:
Richard Olatunde
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Ondo State.
