In a landmark move signaling reconciliation and dialogue, President Bola Tinubu has officially removed Yoruba Nation activist Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, from the Federal Government’s wanted list.
The decision, confirmed by Igboho’s spokesman Olayomi Koiki, comes after sustained mediation by leading Yoruba traditional rulers, including the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, opening the door for the controversial activist’s potential return to Nigeria after years in exile.
Koiki told CityScenes Magazine that the intervention of traditional authorities was pivotal. “Oba Ladoja personally engaged with the Presidency on this matter, and together with the Ooni of Ife and the Olugbon of Orile Igbon, they made a compelling case for peace and reconciliation,” he said. “This is not only about Igboho’s status but about ensuring stability, dialogue, and unity in the South-West.”
Sunday Igboho has been living abroad since July 2021, following a late-night raid on his Ibadan residence by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), an operation that resulted in multiple fatalities and arrests. Subsequently declared wanted over alleged arms-related offenses and separatist agitation, he fled Nigeria and later spent time in the Benin Republic, where he was briefly detained before being released.
With his name now cleared from security watchlists, Igboho is legally allowed to return to Nigeria, though no official date has been set. Sources close to the activist indicate that plans are being made to facilitate his homecoming in a manner that avoids tension and maintains public order.
Observers say President Tinubu’s decision reflects a broader strategy of political reconciliation and engagement with aggrieved groups in the South-West, while also highlighting the continuing influence of traditional institutions in resolving national disputes. Supporters have welcomed the move as a step toward justice and dialogue, whereas critics caution it could embolden separatist movements.
For Igboho and his supporters, the pardon marks a turning point in one of Nigeria’s most contentious political sagas in recent years, blending the weight of tradition with modern political negotiation.
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