Ex President Olusegun Obasanjo has pleaded with the Benin Republic leaders not to allow the extradition of Sunday Adeyemo also known as Sunday Igboho, the Yoruba separatist agitator, to Nigeria.
Obasanjo made this plea when he paid a condolence visit to Nicephore Soglo, former President of Benin Republic, who recently lost his wife – Roseline Soglo. She died on July 25 at the age of 87 in Cotonou.
Soglo was president of Benin Republic from 1991 to 1996.
The former President had travelled to Tanzania on August 1 and rerouted to Benin, according to TheCable.
Top sources in the diplomatic circle revealed that the former president travelled to Zanzibar, an island in Tanzania, on August 1 and rerouted to the Francophone country.
He was said to have travelled to Benin Republic on the guise of condoling with Nicephore Soglo who recently lost his wife – Roseline Soglo. Roseline died on July 25 at the age of 87 in Cotonou.
Soglo was president of Benin Republic from 1991 to 1996.
“Former President Obasanjo travelled to Zanzibar on August 1. Perhaps to conceal his trip; he rerouted to Benin Republic,” one of the sources said.
“He was to condole with former President Soglo who recently lost his wife.”
Another source who was also privy to Obasanjo’s trip said: “He also met with Patrice Talon. The purpose of the meeting was to seek soft-landing for Sunday Igboho.
“He’s asking the Beninise authorities to grant the separatist leader asylum, and not to return him to Nigeria.
“The former president intervened on the request of some south-west leaders.”
Igboho was arrested by Beninise security forces while attempting to flee to Germany.
The Department of State Services (DSS) raided his residence in Oyo on July 1, killing two people and arresting 12 of his supporters.
He has been in detention in Cotonou since his arrest.
The Cable News
