Yoruba Nation activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene and restrain Vice President Kashim Shettima from further criticising Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the British Conservative Party.
Igboho made the appeal in a statement obtained in Osogbo on Sunday, in response to Shettima’s remarks regarding Badenoch’s recent critical comments on corruption in Nigeria.
Badenoch, who identifies as Yoruba, had distanced herself from being categorised with northern Nigeria, and she had spoken out about the issue of corruption that continues to impede Nigeria’s development.
Her remarks drew criticism from Vice President Shettima, which Igboho condemned.
In a personally signed statement, Igboho urged President Tinubu to caution Shettima and direct him to focus on his responsibilities as Vice President rather than engage in verbal disputes with Badenoch, who Igboho defended.
He stated that Badenoch had done nothing wrong by sharing her honest views on Nigeria’s systemic corruption, which he believes has hindered the nation’s progress.
“It is incumbent on President Bola Tinubu, who is also of Yoruba descent, to instruct Shettima to focus on his responsibilities as Vice President rather than waste energy engaging in verbal skirmishes with Badenoch, who merely shared her candid but truthful perspective on the systemic corruption in Nigeria,” Igboho said.
He further pointed out that, under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, any criticism directed at the Fulani ethnic group was met with severe consequences, often through state machinery.
Igboho referenced his own experience of persecution for speaking out against issues such as the destruction of farmlands and the violence caused by Fulani herdsmen, which led to a raid on his residence in July 2021, resulting in fatalities and arrests.
Igboho also criticised the current administration for neglecting to address the widespread suffering of Nigerians, who are grappling with economic hardship, poverty, and insecurity. He expressed concern that instead of focusing on these pressing issues, Vice President Shettima was preoccupied with attacking Badenoch.
“When did it become a crime for someone to express their opinion about how corruption has stalled Nigeria’s growth or to assert their Yoruba identity? The Vice President should focus on his duties and stop wasting time on unnecessary verbal assaults against Kemi Badenoch,” Igboho added.
In conclusion, Igboho urged President Tinubu to take action to ensure that Vice President Shettima concentrates on addressing the country’s critical issues, rather than engaging in unproductive conflicts.
