Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, on Sunday said President Muhammadu Buhari is provoking Nigerians to go to war so as to pave way for him to declare emergency rule in the country and extend his tenure in office beyond May 29, 2023.
Chief Ayo Adebanjo, the acting national leader of the organisation, who spoke exclusively with Daily Independent, also condemned the invasion by the Department of State Services (DSS) on the residence of a prominent Yoruba nation agitator, Chief Sunday Adeyemi, aka Sunday Igboho in the Soka area of Ibadan few days ago.
Describing the attack, which left two of Igboho’s aides dead as a constitutional infringement on his liberty, Adebanjo said Buhari’s belief was that the attack will trigger a response from the South-Westerners who will then attack every Fulani they come across.
“The attack on Igboho is writing a script and I am saying it positively. Buhari wants to cause war. He is provoking the South-West to react, thinking that the moment they have done that to Igboho, the Yorubas will go and start killing all the Fulanis in the South-West.
“If that happens, he will now say law and order has broken down and so, he will declare a state of emergency, prolong his tenure in office and begin to rule militarily. That is my projection with the attitude of Buhari”, he said.
Speaking further, he said the president’s refusal to listen to counsels by various groups across the country is what is fueling most of the unrest.
“By refusing to listen to Southern leaders, Afenifere, PANDEF, Northern Elders Forum and others who are saying let us sit down peacefully and dialogue, it shows he has a sinister motive.
“Instead of listening to voice of reason, he said he will treat people in the language of war. Is that language a fatherly one? How can the president of a country be so aggressive in attending to issues relating to his subjects? Anybody who opposes his aggressive actions, he will accuse them of plotting to break the country. Who is breaking the country other than the president himself who does not talk in a way that can bring people together? He is fooling people, he cannot fool us”.
