A former House of Representative member, Shina Peller, has urged the embattled Nigerian Yoruba self-determination activist and philanthropist, Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho to remain strong over the loss of his mother.
Mr Peller disclosed this on Friday via his Twitter handle while he paid a courtesy visit to the Yoruba activist in Cotonou, the capital city of Benin Republic.
“I paid a condolence visit to Sunday Igboho, in Cotonou, Benin Republic over the demise of his mother, Sikirat Adeyemo. I urged him to take solace in d fact that mama lived a purposeful & fulfilled life; she left good legacies behind one of which is Sunday Igboho himself,” he said.
Mr Adeyemo had announced the passing of his mother on Sunday via his Instagram page.
He said: “My heart is heavy. I do not want you to leave just yet. I’m left alone in this complicated world. Mama mi, who would I turn to? It’s hard for me to say goodbye.
Expressing his condolences, Mr Peller said he prayed for Mr Igboho and his family.
“I enjoined him to remain strong why I prayed that mama’s soul finds peace with God. I also pray that God gives Sunday Igboho, and his family the fortitude to bear the loss Amen.” Mr Peller added.
Mr Adeyemo fled Nigeria in 2021 after agents from the Department of State Security )DSS) raided his home in Ibadan, Oyo state, during the President Muhammadu Buhari administration on suspicion of keeping live ammunition.
He was later arrested at the airport in Benin Republic and subsequently arraigned in the west African nation until he was freed in March 2022 to have access to his doctors on the condition that he not leave the country.
His problems began when he threatened to dismiss a Fulani settler group in Igangan, Oyo state’s Ibarapa North Local Government Area.
Mr Igboho gave the Fulani herdsmen settlers an ultimatum of seven days to leave the Igangan area, accusing them of a number of atrocities including murders, raping and engaging in a kidnap-for-randsom scheme, amongst others.
After the ultimatum’s deadline had passed, Saliu Abdulkadir, the Seriki Fulani from Igangan, had his home set on fire and has since left the neighbourhood.
Mr Igboho was largely implicated in the incident.
However, the Yoruba Self-Determination Coalition (YSDC), a sociopolitical organisation, last week pleaded with the President Bola Tinubu administration to pardon the Yoruba activist.
