Yoruba Nation: APC Kicks As Akintoye Attacks Tinubu

 

The All Progressives Congress has attacked the leader of the Yoruba Nation self-determination struggle, Professor Banji Akintoye over his refusal to support Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress.

 

According to Punch, Akintoye had accused the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, of using some members of the self-determination struggle to destroy the movement because of his presidential ambition.

 

Akintoye had also said that he did not authorise a congress of the apex body of the Yoruba self-determination struggle, Ilana Omo Oodua Worldwide, being rumoured to take place in Ibadan on Tuesday, November 1 (today).

 

The IOO leader, who said this in a statement on Monday, added that he had to do this to debunk the claim by Funmi Soyemi, the outgoing Chairman of the Ilana Interim Management Committee of the organisation, that a world congress of Ilana Omo Oodua will be held tomorrow in Ibadan.

 

Akintoye said, “The people planning the congress are few agents of Nigerian politicians within the struggle. Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, is currently recruiting some power-seeking individuals within the self-determination struggle to either discredit me or destroy the movement completely.

The statement further went on to note that, “Also, Bola Tinubu has threatened to destroy Ilana Omo Oodua and other serious self-determination organisations in Yorubaland because we told him that he is merely after his personal interest and not the interest of the Yoruba people.

 

When contacted for reaction, the Chief Spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, Festus Keyamo, could not immediately confirm if the presidential candidate is scheduled to be at the congress of Ilana Omo Oodua in Ibadan on Tuesday (today).

 

He said, “The itinerary of Asiwaju that I have for tomorrow is the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry. I cannot confirm if he is attending the World Congress of Ilana Omo Oodua tomorrow at Ibadan.”

When asked to react to Akintoye’s accusation that Tinubu is seeking to destroy the Yoruba self-determination struggle by using some members of the movement, Keyamo declared that there was no iota of truth in the allegation.

 

He also queried who elected Prof. Akintoye as the mouthpiece of the Yoruba race.

 

“All I am trying to tell you is that the Yoruba have not appointed any of such characters to speak on behalf of the Yoruba race,” he said.