A leader of the Yoruba Nation agitators, Professor Banji Akintoye has cancelled all plans for his 87th birthday celebration.
Akintoye who is the leader of the umbrella body of Yoruba self-determination groups, Ilana Omo Oodua Worldwide said it is not right for him to be celebrating while Chief Sunday Adeyemo popularly known as Sunday Igboho is still in prison custody in Benin Republic.
The professor made his stand known in a statement issued by the Communications Secretary of the self-determination movement, Mr. Maxwell Adeleye.
He however called out the federal government of Nigeria, saying it is attempting to criminalize the legitimate struggle for the actualization of a Yoruba Nation.
Akintoye went ahead to say the time for the actualization of a Yoruba Nation has come, urging all those who believe in the project not to give up as it is just a matter of time regardless of the opposition from the government.
He said: “Today, I clock 87. I thank God for this unusual grace and favour from God. I am grateful to God for the strength, energy and good health that I am enjoying.
“My message to the Yoruba people worldwide who are passionate for the country of their own is not to lose hope. I am more than convinced that we are on our way to freedom. Our agitation is an idea whose time has come.
“We shall keep the struggle alive, and beyond the manipulation of the Nigerian government. We won’t allow the Nigerian Government to criminalise our struggle. The Yoruba people worldwide are urged never to be deterred.
“Many Yoruba patriots worldwide planned to celebrate my birthday but I pleaded with them not to do so in honour of my son and one of the heroes of our struggle, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, fondly called Sunday Ighoho, by all of us. I cannot be celebrating birthday when Ighoho is in detention.”
