Sunday Igboho: Yoruba Nation not part of planned protest

Sunday Adeyemo, the Yoruba Nation activist popularly called Sunday Igboho, says his group is not part of the planned nationwide protest.

The youth-led nationwide marches against spiralling inflation and economic hardship have been billed for August 1-10.

In a statement on Monday, Igboho said the planned demonstration is an attempt to “undermine” the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

He added that during the administration of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, nobody called for “regime change”.

“While the right to peaceful protest is enshrined in our constitution, it does not extend to calls for an unconstitutional regime change,” he said.

“It is worth noting that during President Buhari’s eight-year tenure, there were no such protests for regime change from the South-west, even when our people faced oppression and atrocities.

“Our protests were focused on protecting our communities, not on destabilizing the country.

“The Yoruba Nation movement and I firmly declare that we will not participate in any protest aimed at using the south-west as a battleground for political upheaval.

“We stand resolute in our belief that the Yoruba Nation will not be a launchpad for disintegrating Nigeria.

“We recognize that economic hardship is a global phenomenon, not unique to Nigeria.”