Yoruba Union Cautions Tinubu: Don’t Sabotage Nnamdi Kanu’s Release — Backs Sowore’s Peaceful Protest, Warns Against Repeating Past Mistakes

Ikeja,  Lagos State– The Yoruba Union, known as Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá, has issued a stern warning to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging him not to use the Department of State Services (DSS), the military, or the police to sabotage the planned peaceful protest calling for the release of detained Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

The protest, organised by human rights activist Omoyele Sowore, is scheduled to take place at Aso Rock on October 20.

In a statement released on Thursday and signed by the group’s Convener, Olusola Badero, and Home Director, Princess Balogun, the Yoruba Union said any attempt to obstruct Sowore’s peaceful protest or hinder Kanu’s release would be a grave mistake capable of deepening Nigeria’s existing divisions.

The group warned that South-East politicians or individuals working against Kanu’s freedom were “destroying the future of the region to the detriment of others.”

According to the statement, Sowore’s decision to lead a peaceful demonstration for Kanu’s release represents a “brave and patriotic move” that speaks to the conscience of every Nigerian who values justice and equality.

The Yoruba Union emphasised that Kanu’s continuous detention despite court rulings in his favor undermines the rule of law and the principles of democracy that Nigeria claims to uphold.

“Nothing can stop the release of Nnamdi Kanu since all legal and constitutional measures have been taken. The peaceful march to Aso Rock will show the world how the Nigerian government continues to disobey its own laws,” the group said.

The Yoruba Union maintained that President Tinubu had a unique opportunity to rewrite history and mend fractured national relationships by ordering Kanu’s immediate release.

According to the group, the move would have earned the president goodwill from the Igbo people, who have long felt marginalised in the Nigerian federation.

“As Yoruba people, we will never discriminate based on politics, tribe, or religion. Justice must be served regardless of who is involved.

“Kanu’s release is not an Igbo issue alone—it is a Nigerian issue, a human rights issue, and a moral issue that concerns all who seek justice and fairness.”

The Union further highlighted that Nnamdi Kanu has already paid a heavy personal price for his beliefs, having lost his parents to state-sanctioned violence during the Buhari administration.

It said the continued persecution of Kanu and the silence of the current government risk reigniting wounds from the Biafra civil war that have yet to heal more than five decades later.

“The Biafra war remains a wound that refuses to heal because justice was never given to those who deserved it. The children of the victims have grown up carrying the trauma of that injustice. Instead of dialogue and reconciliation, the Nigerian state has chosen intimidation and suppression,” YorubaUnion said.

Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá warned that history would not be kind to President Tinubu if he chose to follow the same path of repression and silence that defined the past.

The group urged the president to learn from General Yakubu Gowon’s mistakes after the civil war, noting that a leader’s strength is shown not through coercion but through compassion and dialogue.

“History’s record cannot be erased, except President Tinubu wishes to have his name among those who ignored the cries of the oppressed and treated their citizens as second-class in their own country,” it said.

The group also condemned the worsening economic hardship in the country, citing rising food prices, unemployment, and insecurity as evidence that the government has lost touch with ordinary Nigerians.

It cautioned that using force against peaceful demonstrators would further alienate the citizens from their government.

“Using security agencies to intimidate citizens will not solve the problem but rather add salt to the wounds that have festered for decades,” the group warned.

“Power belongs to God and the people, not to those who occupy political offices. When leaders fail to represent the people as expected, citizens have the constitutional right to question and peacefully protest.”

The Yoruba Union accused President Tinubu of surrounding himself with corrupt and self-serving politicians, traditional rulers, and lawmakers who allegedly benefit from Kanu’s continued detention and are misleading the president for personal gain.

“The president must choose between listening to the suffering masses or the corrupt elites who feed off their pain. The protest led by Sowore represents the voice of the people, and silencing it would only invite more unrest and division,” Yoruba Union added.

The Yoruba Union reaffirmed its support for peaceful and lawful actions, urging all Nigerians — irrespective of ethnicity, religion, or political affiliation — to stand up for justice and support the demand for Nnamdi Kanu’s release as a step toward national healing, peace, and unity.