The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has warned Yoruba activist and freedom fighter, Sunday Igboho, not to take laws into his hands even as he is fighting for the liberation of the Yorubas from criminal herdsmen.
He told Igboho to back down so that government can take over the battles and watch out for politicians seeking to hijack his agitations against killer herdsmen in the South West, Jomog News Nigeria reports.
The Ooni who gave the warning while appearing on Arise Television programme on Wednesday, said that having spoken out for the downtrodden and shown everyone that he really cares for his people, it was time for Igboho to allow the constituted authorities including the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, and other leaders to take charge and handle the security challenges in the state.
He advised him not to take laws into his hands but allow constituted authorities handle the herdsmen menace.
The monarch said: “Let us be very objective. He (Igboho) is being a mouthpiece for the downtrodden. He came up and everybody is listening now but my advice to him as a traditional ruler is that he needs to be very careful so that the politicians won’t hijack the whole motive from him.
“He has done well and we’ve already praised him but he shouldn’t take laws into his hands. We have the governor there, he is the chief security officer of the state and Mr President has invited him (Makinde). Let the right people that are being authorised to do what is right do it.
“He (Igboho) has done well and the world has heard him but everything should be done in moderation.”
He added: “We know that the bandits are everywhere. He shouldn’t take laws into his hands. We have laws in this country and we should follow it. Let the right people chosen do and follow what they are supposed to do.
“Traditional rulers have a role to play. We should be very neutral and so far so good, we have been trying to be neutral. Whatever this government is doing, we always stand up to try and see how to support them.
“It is not as if we will now go out to criticise them. We are not politicians, we are traditional rulers; we should be respected, we should be neutral and we should accommodate all and sundry,” the monarch added.
The Ooni praised Igboho for taking on the campaign against herdsmen, saying he has done very well.
