President Mohammadu Buhari had asked the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mohammed Abubakar, to arrest Igboho who gave Fulani Herdsmen ultimatum to leave Ibarapa.
Fani-Kayode in a statement sent to Pointblanknews.com said it would be counter productive for Igboho to be arrested or killed
The statement reads:
“It would be dangerous, reckless and counter productive for Buhari to ARREST or KILL Sunday Igboho.
“When the Northern youths demanded that Igbos should leave the north no-one was arrested. Why should Sunday be arrested or killed for asking KILLER Fulani herdsmen to leave SW?
“I advise the FG to tread softly because Sunday has the full support of the Yoruba nation because he has spoken for the people. Kill him and you make him a martyr for Oduduwa, arrest him and you make him the greatest hero of the Yoruba since independence. Whichever way he wins.
“The way to solve the problem is to arrest the herdsmen that kill and kidnap our people in the SW and not to arrest or kill those that are standing up and speaking for their victims.
“Sunday did not ask for ALL Fulanis to leave SW. He asked for the killers, terrorists and kidnappers amongst them to leave Ibarapa and the Yoruba people LOVE him for it. Is that a crime?
“As long as he maintains the peace and does not indulge in or encourage any violence I do not see what he has done wrong?
“In 1999 when Gani Adams was rising up I identified him as a young man to watch. I wrote an essay about him and I said his courage would take him far. I was proved right.
“Today I identify Sunday Igboho who has stood up against wickedness, injustice and apartheied in our land when other Yoruba leaders were too timid to stand. I commend his courage.”