A public interest lawyer, Pelumi Olajemgbesi has submitted that Chief Sunday Adeyemo Igboho, Yoruba Nation agitator is a prisoner of conscience who has not committed any crime.
According to him, Igboho is not being prosecuted but detained on the orders of the powers that be, at the appropriate time, he will regain his freedom.
Olajemgbesi spoke in an interview with The Nation.
He said: “I know for sure that Sunday Igboho is not facing prosecution. He is a prisoner of conscience. He is only been detained. He is a political detainee. He will be released anytime soon.
“Lots of consultations and efforts are in progress to ensure reasonable level of engagements towards his freedom and I am positive he will be released soon.
On the extension of Igboho’s detention by six months by Beninoise court, Olajengbesi said: “Well, for me, I am not in a position to speak on the extension. Igboho’s lawyer is in charge of that and Chief Yomi Aliu (SAN) most respectfully have addressed that. My position is that he will be out soon and maybe sooner than what people thought. We only need eminent Yoruba leaders to unite behind him.
On the lessons the agitators calling for the resolution of the national question learnt from the government’s handling of the separatist agitators by Igboho, the Abuja lawyer said it is those who are in the trenches who can really say much about such lessons. The scope of my involvement is professional, I am just a lawyer.
The public interest lawyer spoke on whether the crusade for self-determination by ethnic group is an anomaly.
He said: “The crusade for self-determination is not an anomaly because it is recognised in law.
“The right to demand for self-determination is inherent in human beings. It is a natural right bestowed by God. People can seek for self-determination. It is in Africa charter. Sadly, People in government are only been hostile because they (govt) have failed to build a united nation where justice, fairness and equality is the cornerstone, a nation we all can be proud of, failure to provide necessary and basic amenities for a good life for the people and the effect of it is the cry we are witnessing out there.
“If basic and necessarly things are there or provided for the people, there won’t be any need for agitation for self-determination. Nigeria is not the only plural state in the world, yet demands for self determination is threatening the continuous existence of the country.
“There is injustice going on in the country and as long as it continues, the call for self-determination by groups will continue,” Olajengbesi said.
Credit: thenationonlineng.net
