Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has alleged that the Yoruba Nation agitation led by Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, was covertly funded by President Bola Tinubu to destabilise the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Sowore made the claim during a recent episode of his “Times” podcast released on Monday, where he discussed political developments surrounding the agitation in the South-West.
According to him, the separatist movement was not entirely organic but allegedly driven by political calculations linked to Tinubu’s presidential ambition at the time.
He claimed that Tinubu, amid strained relations with northern political interests during the Buhari administration, allegedly backed the agitation as a pressure tactic to bolster his candidacy.
Sowore further alleged that the Buhari administration attempted to eliminate Igboho without the knowledge of Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo State, during the controversial July 2021 raid on the activist’s residence in Ibadan.
He claimed that Igboho narrowly escaped the operation and later fled the country with injuries.
According to Sowore, the alleged move was intended to send a strong warning to Tinubu, forcing him to retreat after demonstrating his capacity to disrupt the political landscape.
The activist also commented on political sentiment in northern Nigeria, stating that unity remains a central concern in the region’s political considerations.
The allegations come amid renewed debate over Igboho’s recent political position and his open support for President Tinubu.
Reacting, Igboho’s spokesperson, Olayomi Koiki, maintained that the activist’s support for Tinubu is a personal decision and does not undermine the broader Yoruba Nation agitation.
Koiki stressed that Igboho is not the sole leader of the movement, noting that the struggle for Yoruba self-determination extends beyond any individual and cannot be halted by a single actor.
