The former leader of Ilana Omo Oduduwa, Prof Wale Adeniran, has renounced his membership of the group and severed ties with its leader, Prof Banji Akintoye. He however said he remained committed to Yoruba Nation’s struggle for self-determination.
The leadership of the organisation has been engulfed in a crisis in recent times over allegations of fraud and embezzlement, which led to Adeniran’s resignation. He said he resigned to allow a thorough investigation into the allegation as he called on Yoruba elders to set up a committee for that purpose.
In a statement on Friday, Adeniran explained that he renounced his membership following the inability of the group to set up a panel to investigate him.
The statement read, “Sometime late December 2022, Professor Banji Akintoye’s personal assistant put out a 35-minute video in which he accused me of all imaginable crimes under the sun, the most serious being an allegation of financial impropriety. Others who made similar allegations against me include some members of Ilana Omo Oduduwa and one Mr Mayegun (of Mayegun’s Diary).
“Consequently, I reacted by calling on relevant and interested Yoruba self-determination stakeholders to institute an investigative probe panel to determine the veracity of the weighty allegations against me. In the meantime, I stepped aside from the chairmanship and membership of Ilana Omo Oduduwa so as not to be seen to be using my office to influence the work and findings of the probe panel.”
He said after the expiration of the 21 days he gave for the probe panel to be set up on Wednesday, he concluded that the allegations against him were not worthy of any further attention and he had been absolved of any guilt.
He said he would decide whether or not to seek redress in court, stating, “With effect from Wednesday, February 1, 2023, I cease to be a member and an officer of Ilana Omo Oduduwa. My decision to exit the organisation is irrevocable and irreversible. However, I remain firmly committed to the Yoruba Nation’s struggle for self-determination.
“I hereby, with effect from Wednesday, February 1, 2023, sever all connections and relationships with Professor Stephen Adebanji Akintoye, the Alana and Chairman of Ilana Omo Oduduwa.”
