A couple of Yoruba elders have reportedly warned Yorubas not to vote for presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Gen. Mohammadu Buhari (rtd) because he has no respect for traditional authority and Yoruba people.
Speaking on the sidelines of the meeting between the leaders of pan-Yoruba group, Afenifere, and President Goodluck Jonathan in Akure, on Tuesday, Alhaji Sulaimon Olumolade, a cocoa merchant from Ibadan, Oyo State and Demola Ibiwiye commented on the issue.
Olumolade recalled Buhair’s ill treatment of Pa Ajasin and Chief Onabanjo. He said “Buhari was wicked to the Yoruba nation. How does he expect us to vote for him when we have not forgotten the treatment he meted out to Pa Ajasin and Chief Onabanjo, two men that he could not find guilty of corruption but whom he still detained for over 20 months? We do not have such a short memory. We do not want someone who disrespects our people as president.”
Ibiwiye added that “Buhari suspended the Ooni of Ife, Oba Alayeluwa Okunnade Sijuade, because he travelled to Israel with the late Emir of Kano. Who do you think would vote for such a person who has no respect for traditional authority? We the Yorubas rever our kings a lot and will vote against a man who has demonstrated such disrespect for our traditional rulers.”
Meanwhile the Northern Coalition for Democracy and Justice (NCDJ), a group of norther pro-democracy activists has reported Gen Buhari to the United States for his role in the 2011 Post Election Violence.
In a letter titled, ‘The role of General Muhammadu Buhari in the 2011 post-election violence in Nigeria,’ which was signed by Mr. Yunana Shubkau, Publicity Secretary, Dr. Ibrahim Baba , Secretary Research and Documentation and Umar Farouk, Secretary General, the group said “Conducts of political actors particularly statements credited to Buhari and others in the year 2012, 2013 and 2014 during the build up to the 2015 elections is in the context of politically motivated sectarian violence. And a threat to the conduct of peaceful, free, fair and transparent elections in Nigeria.
“Therefore as an integral part of the international community, the US has an unambiguous obligation to facilitate the prosecution of individuals responsible for the 2011 post-election violence recorded in Nigeria and to checkmate reoccurrence of the same dastardly act in 2015 during the general elections in Nigeria.
“NCDJ instituted legal action for human rights violation against Buhari before the ICC at the Hague. It is in view of the ample video, audio and documented evidence to support a prosecution against him at our disposal that we urge the United States Government to facilitate his hand over to the International Criminal Court as there is incontrovertible evidence against him which supercedes that of Bagbo of Ivory Coast and Uhuru Kenyata of Kenya
“As vanguards of accountability in our dear country, we shall continue to conscientise and mobilise the citizenry to resist all forms of intolerance in Nigeria.”