The Umbrella body of Yoruba self-determination groups, Ilana Omo Oodua (IOO), has said it's pro-Yoruba nation rally scheduled to hold in Lagos State on Saturday, will still go on as scheduled despite the raiding of Sunday Igboho's home by the DSS, and warning by the Police, that the rally could be hijacked by hoodlums.
The disclosure was made on Friday in a statement made available to newsmen by IOO's Communications Manager, Mr Maxwell Adeleye.
The group which is chaired by the President of Yoruba World Congress, Prof. Banji Akintoye, said there are forces using different means to cause confusion aimed at stifling the struggle for a sovereign Yoruba Nation, but said no amount of intimidation or fear mongering would succeed.
The group said those concerned about the possibility of the rally being hijacked, should put more effort into ensuring the place is secured, and that the Lagos rally holds peacefully like the previous ones.
“Our rally scheduled to hold on Saturday will still hold without any fear or intimidation and we promise to be peaceful like we have always been,” IOO said on the statement.
The group said it sent a letter through its General Secretary and Legal Adviser, Arc. George Akinola and Barr. Olasupo Ojo respectively, to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Odumosu, saying it was happy that the police already knew that hoodlums were likely to hijack the rally, but called on the police to ensure such did not happen like it didn’t happen in Ekiti, Ondo, Osun, Oyo and Ogun States respectively where IOO had held its rallies already.
“We have been peaceful, orderly and lawful at everywhere we have visited, therefore, we call on the Lagos State Police Command to ensure that the rally is not hijacked by hoodlums.
“We are happy that the police already know that hoodlums are likely to hijack the rally. Now, we call on the police to ensure such does not happen like it didn’t happen in Ekiti, Ondo, Osun, Oyo and Ogun States respectively where we’ve held our rallies.
“It is the duty of the police to safeguard our peaceful demonstration and protect us. On our own part, we promise to cooperate with the police towards ensuring that the rally is peaceful and orderly,” the statement said.
Chairman of the group, Akintoye, has previously said there's no going back on the determination of the Yoruba people to leave the union.
"There is no going back! And nobody including federal government can stop us. The whole world is already aware of our mission, and there is nothing federal government can do about it because what we are doing is not in any way illegal.
"It is within our legitimate right to determine whether we want to stay or not in the union called Nigeria. There is no way we can be held against our will if our people have already made up their mind to leave Nigeria.
"Nigeria is living on borrowed time, and it is just a matter of time before we all go our separate ways. There is no going back, Oduduwa Republic has come to stay. It has become a reality," he said.