Indigenous Yoruba monarchs of Benin Republic, on Sunday resolved to as a matter of urgency write the Beninoise President that Yoruba activist, Sunday Adeyemo known as Sunday Igboho is innocent of all insinuated charges levied against him by the Buhari administration of Nigeria.
In the meeting held in the Palace of Alajohoun of Adjohoun, which is about 60 kilometres away from Ajase, the Obas agreed to ensure their letter get to their 63 year old President, Patrice Guillaume Athanase Talon (born 1 May 1958), a Beninese politician and businessman who has been President of Benin since 6 April 2016 with speed.
Among those present at the meeting are Alajashe of Ajase from Port Novo, Alajohoun of Adjohoun, Onikoyi Abesan, and Oba of Seme.
BBC Yoruba quoted the monarchs as saying that aside the President, they will also write to the Ministers of Justice, Internal Affairs as well as the head of parliament in Benin Republic.
The monarchs said they will only address the media after the submission of the petitions.
They also said they will not disclose the content of their petition as doing so may be counterproductive to their efforts and desire.
Ọba Siyan, the Aladjohoun of Adjohoun added that the traditional rulers will visit Government’s House on Monday if they did not receive a swift response to their petitions.
The meeting of the monarchs come ahead of resumption of trial of Sunday Igboho on Monday at the Court D’Appeal, Cotonou.
Yoruba leaders, including monarchs are rallying for the Yoruba rights activist.
Patmos Media Line can reveal to you that more than 95% of the Yoruba monarchs are always by history installed by the Alaafin of Oyo and the present Alaafin, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi 111 is always paying them patriarchal visits. Incidentally, Igboho where Sunday Adeyemo hails from is also under the Alaafin.
Yoruba monarchs are seen as important in Benin Republic as the tribe hold sway in economic matters of the small nation.
The Beninese court adjourned Igboho’s case till Monday (tomorrow) after his five lawyers failed to convince the prosecutor that he had no case to answer.
The Beninese authorities have, however, released Ropo, the agitator’s wife, who was arrested with the 48-year-old activist on Monday, July 19, 2021, by the International Criminal Police Organisation at the Cadjèhoun Airport in Cotonou, Republic of Benin on their way to Germany.
On his part, Igboho was returned to police custody.
The lawyers had said that during the hearing, prosecutors claimed Igboho was on a watchlist for alleged trafficking in arms, inciting violence that could result in social disturbance and causing disunity in Nigeria.
When Igboho was arraigned on Thursday, hundreds of his Yoruba-speaking supporters surrounded the Court D’Appal of Cotonou.
The Punch also reported that some of the supporters, who went to witness the case, made the environment tense.
Also, Yoruba-speaking monarchs were also present in court.
However, Ibrahim Salami, one of the Cotonou, Benin Republic-based lawyers of Sunday Igboho, has urged his supporters to stay away from the court proceedings on Monday.
He said, “When we went to court on Thursday, we had a large turnout of Igbho’s supporters. I frowned at their action. They should stay at home and let us do our job. Igboho is accused of causing disorderliness and civil unrest. If they are now mobilising to court, it may send a wrong signal. They should support him with prayers from home.
“There is no accord between Nigeria and Benin that allows Benin to extradite Igboho to Nigeria. He can only be extradited on political grounds. In that regard, the law won’t apply.”
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