Skip to main content

Viral Video: Why Koiki Wasn't Speaking For Igboho When He Threatened To Attack Alake, Other Obas —Media Aide

Koiki had in a viral video on Sunday warned all Yoruba traditional rulers who had kicked against the secession of the South-West from Nigeria, including the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu.

Yoruba freedom fighter, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has distanced himself from a statement made by his spokesman, Olayomi Koiki, who threatened that, angry Yoruba youths would invade the palace of the Alake of Egbaland.

Koiki had in a viral video on Sunday warned all Yoruba traditional rulers who had kicked against the secession of the South-West from Nigeria, including the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu that there would be consequences.

Image

But in an interview with SaharaReporters on Monday, Igboho who spoke through his Senior Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dapo Salami, said the statement was made solely by Koiki. 

He, therefore, added the statement should be attributed to Koiki and not Igboho.

Salami said, “Quote me, Chief Sunday Igboho has nothing to do with this declaration by Koiki, though Koiki is Igboho's spokesman, but, on this particular one, Chief is not in support.

“The Alake of Egbaland is a major leader in Yorubaland whom we honour and have so much reverence for. Igboho will never say he wants to go and invade his palace.

“Koiki came in from the United Kingdom so he does not understand some things. We are not for violence, we are not going to invade any Oba's Palace. We respect them all, they are our fathers and we will never disrespect them.”

SaharaReporters obtained a copy of the controversial video posted by Koiki on social media.

Koiki had said: “Let’s send a message back to the Alake of Egbaland. My name is Olayomi Koiki. We will start with you, we will break the coconut on your head. If you think what we have in our hand is child's play, we are almost done sending people out; just a little more time. You will know that ‘water pass garri’. By the time we invade your palace, you will know. You think we are joking. We have blown it to a level, just a little more time to release the hair. You will hear ‘gbos’.

“Thinking that this issue will not turn into trouble is a lie. The trouble is coming; we are just postponing it. Whoever has the might can wait; who doesn’t have the power will hear it when the noise gets to its stage.

“Some of the Obas, aside from those who have spoken out well, those who have not spoken out, we will pursue them and they will run. Look at me very well. I am Olayomi Koiki. If you think you have something (spiritual power), you’d better start using it because what we are dragging with you is not a joke. It is you that will go into exile because most of you sent us into slavery, now you are saying that we should not start a war in Nigeria. Don’t you know there is a war already since the creation of Nigeria? You will hear madness by the time we send out ‘boys’. We will use your head to break a coconut, except the good ones among you, who have spoken up.

“Tell all Obas and politicians that this is not a joke. I am a confirmed Ijebu-Ode indigene. Let’s continue with the awareness, but at a stage, you will know it.

“The South-West governments have been given 30 days and after 30 days, it will be very hot. We are not going anywhere, we are here; unless God does not know about this.

“How can somebody be telling us from his palace that we should not start a war. There’s war in Nigeria. You think there is no war in Nigeria and the governor of Benue state was almost killed? You didn’t talk when Yoruba indigenes became refugees in the Benin Republic.

“Whatever you have, bring it out and let’s drag it on. Yoruba nation, there’s no going back!” Koiki submitted.

SaharaReporters earlier reported that Oba Gbadebo, on Friday, appealed to those calling for Nigeria's secession to shelve the idea.

The monarch warned that those beating the drum of war in Nigeria were calling for chaos in the country and Africa at large.

The monarch said Nigeria could not afford to go through another civil war, stressing that no country in the world would be willing to have over 250 million Nigerians as refugees.

The monarch said Nigerians, irrespective of their tribe, political or religious afflictions, must work together for the country's greater good.

Alake said if Nigeria fails as a country, the entire black race has failed, insisting that Nigeria is better as one united nation than to break up.

The development comes a few days after Sunday Igboho alongside famous Yoruba historian, Prof Banji Akintoye, declared that Yoruba land was no more part of Nigeria.

Topics
Insecurity