Yoruba nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has called on President Bola Tinubu to caution Vice President, Kashim Shettima, to stop making further verbal attacks on the British Conservative Party leader, Kemi Badenoch.
Igboho made the call in a statement he personally signed and issued on Sunday, while responding to remarks made by Shettima regarding Badenoch, who had earlier criticised corruption in Nigeria which sparked controversy across the country.
Badenoch, a Nigerian-British woman of Yoruba descent had also distanced herself from being associated with Northern Nigeria.
In the statement, Igboho asked President Tinubu to intervene, noting that Badenoch had done no wrong by speaking out on corruption, a major barrier to Nigeria’s development.
Igboho stated, “It is the responsibility of President Bola Tinubu, who shares the Yoruba heritage, to direct Shettima to focus on his vice-presidential duties instead of engaging in verbal confrontations with Badenoch.
“She simply voiced her candid and honest opinion about the widespread corruption in Nigeria’s system.”
He drew a parallel to the previous administration, saying, “Under President Muhammadu Buhari, no one dared attack the Fulani ethnic group without consequences.
“As a result of my protests against the destruction of farmlands, killings, and sexual violence by Fulani herders during Buhari’s tenure, security agents, on his orders, stormed my home on July 1, 2021, killing two and arresting 13 others.”
Igboho also criticised the Nigerian government for failing to address the pressing issues facing Nigerians, such as economic hardship, poverty, kidnappings, and insecurity.
Instead of addressing these challenges, he said, Shettima was directing his energy towards attacking Badenoch.
“Most Nigerians are enduring severe poverty and insecurity, yet the Federal Government remains clueless in addressing these issues.
“Instead of focusing on alleviating the suffering of the people, the Vice President is preoccupied with targeting Badenoch,” he remarked.
Igboho added, “When did it become wrong for someone to openly express their views about the corruption that has hindered Nigeria’s progress? Badenoch, proudly identifying as Yoruba, has not committed any offence.
“The Vice President should focus on his duties instead of pursuing trivial matters.”
He therefore urged President Tinubu to step in and ensure that Shettima refrains from further unnecessary attacks on Badenoch, emphasising the importance of prioritising the responsibilities of his office.
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