Ogun silent on Igboho’s visit, says Abiodun’s aide misquoted on alleged invitation

The Ogun State Government on Monday declined comment on the visit of Yoruba rights activist, Sunday Adeyemo, aka Sunday Igboho, to the state.

It, however, denied reports that it had enlisted him to combat crime in the state.

Earlier on Monday, Igboho stopped briefly in Abeokuta, the state capital, on his way to the Yewa-North Local Government of the state.

While addressing his followers in Abeokuta, he said, “I observe there is an injustice from the herdsmen because they know the powers that be in the Federal Government. They behave like the Yoruba are nobody. They kill, they kidnap our people, they rape our women. Any Fulani herdsman who engages in kidnapping will be flushed out.”

Igboho said he would visit all parts of Yorubaland and ensure that there was peace everywhere.

He said, “The reason for our visit to Ogun State is to flush out killers herdsmen. We have not visited the governor; we will do that after we have flushed the  Fulani  herdsmen out of the state.”

But a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Kunle Somorin, on Monday quoted the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Abdulwaheed Odusile, as denying news report credited to Remmy Hazzan, the Special Adviser on Public Communication to Governor Dapo Abiodun, adding that the report quoted the virtual interview out of context.

“In the interview, Hazzan had said that the state government would continue to work with all the stakeholders to ensure security of lives and property.

“Sadly, this statement was twisted to mean that the State had invited Mr Adeyemo (Igboho) to help curb insecurity. This is regrettable and totally misleading.”

The statement said the government would continue to attract and welcome all those with legitimate reasons to live and work in the state.

The statement added, “At all times, the government will ensure that all security agencies and indeed all stakeholders operate within the ambit of the law and will neither welcome nor endorse any initiative that amounts to self-help or is outside the contemplation of the constitution.”