Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has dismissed the claim making the rounds of his alleged support for the agitation for Yoruba nation.
Akeredolu, who stated that agitators of Yoruba nation are on their own, emphasized that he would never be in support of secessionists.
The Governor was reacting to the comment made by Yoruba activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, that the agitation for a Yoruba nation was being backed by South-West Governors.
Igboho had stated this on Saturday at the palace of the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, where he said Akeredolu gave the nod for the rally for the actualization of Yoruba nation to hold in Akure, the state capital.
In a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Richard Olatunde, it was disclosed that the rally which was allowed to hold was due to the Akeredolu’s recognition of the right of individuals and groups to hold peaceful rallies, adding the move “must not be misconstrued to mean support for secessionist agenda and or balkanization of the nation. Far from it.”
While stressing that he believed in a united and indivisible Nigeria, Akeredolu maintained that the zeal, leadership and candour displayed by him was for a just and fair Nigeria which according to him is altruistic and borne out of patriotism for the Nation as well as love for his people, the Yoruba ethnic nationality.
He added that “it is important, therefore, to state without any equivocation that the Yoruba Nation secessionist promoters do not enjoy any lending hand in Governor Akeredolu.”
