The Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), Olubadan-in-Council, Obas, Mogajis, Baales, elders, leadership of various market councils, Babalojas, Iyalojas, community development associations and the entire Ibadan indigenes have condemned the attack on Oyo State Governor’s Office and the Oyo State House of Assembly by suspected O’odua Nation agitators.
They warned the agitators to stay away from Ibadan and the entire Oyo State, saying the people would not condone insult again.
It would be recalled that some masked men in army camouflage with rifles claiming to be Yoruba Nation agitators on Saturday stormed the Oyo State Government Secretariat.
CCII’s President-General, Chief Niyi Ajewole called for thorough investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate incident.
According to him, whoever is involved in the act directly or indirectly should be fished out and brought to book.
“We hereby condemn this heinous assault in its entirety, with a strong warning that all these agitators should stay away from Ibadanland and Oyo State, as anyone found with any forms of illegal assembly or hoisting of any flags, use of agitators’ caps, berets, vests, stickers will be considered as the enemy of Ibadanland and the state and will be dealt with according to the tradition and law.
“CCII and indeed the entire sons and daughters of Ibadan received with terrible shock, embarrassment and consternation, the audacious invasion of the Oyo State Government seat of power, the State Secretariat, Ibadan.
“Of great and particular concern was the invasion of Ibadan, which has been enviably enjoying peace that the indigenes and residents generally are happy about.
“It was said that the invaders actually attempted to take over the Governor’s Office and the House of Assembly, the two vital organs of government and instruments of governance.
“It was a deliberate and daring attempt, targeted at seizing power. An attack of preponderance qualified of being described as localised mutiny, perhaps aimed to be expanded to the other parts of the country.
“It is not even out of place, to suspect that, the hoodlums wanted to deliver a diabolical message of taking over Ibadan to be held hostage, or captured and kept in captivity.
“Information at the disposal of CCII was that the invasion was orchestrated and sponsored, by yet to be identified individuals and groups, while the heinous onslaught lasted, there was serious apprehension, consternation and commotion in the whole of Ibadan city.
“All the inhabitants were restless, putting calls across to one another to ensure each other’s safety wherever they were. Economic and other activities were disrupted.
“Indigenes in diaspora too were not left out, calling their loved ones at home, to ascertain their safety. Of particular interest to all the residents of Oyo State, particularly the Ibadan sons and daughters was the whereabouts of His Excellency, the Governor of Oyo State Engineer Seyi Makinde, who ordinarily would be the target of such barbaric offensive.
“One wondered whether we were in war, one wondered why these disgruntled elements wanted to turn Ibadan to theatre of war. We even wondered, whether the tumultuous banditry being perpetrated in certain parts of the country was to be extended to Ibadan City. What an unprovoked and appalling insult!
“As the confusion was going on, information started filtering in, that the crime was being committed by certain group called” Oodua Nation Agitators” aiming to actualise the establishment of “Oodua Republic.
“How can that be possible in a manner that caught the people unawares, was Ibadan part of their sinister motive? Was the apprehension persisted, reprieve started to prevail, when it was gathered that personnel of various security agencies had moved in, to take control”, Ajewole said.