The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has denied comparing IPOB members and Yoruba nation agitators with Boko Haram terrorists.
This is coming following media reports on Wednesday, September 15, that the Speaker, in his welcome address to his colleagues at Wednesday’s plenary, purportedly said IPOB and Yoruba nation agitators are the same with Boko haram.
However, Lanre Lasisi, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Speaker, in a statement on Wednesday said Gbajabiamila did not mention any group.
The statement reads: “In view of the impression created by the said reports, it has become necessary to clarify that the Speaker, in his speech, never mentioned any group.
“For the records, the Speaker said some miscreants and criminals are taking advantage of the separationist agitations to carry their activities.
“There was nowhere that the Speaker mentioned the name of any group. What was conspicuous in the Speaker’s speech was the focus of the activities of MISCREANTS AND CRIMINALS, and its effect on the country.
“The Speaker never condemned secessionists or compared them to terrorists.
“As a matter of fact, the Speaker is not alone on the concern about an apparent emergence of a band of miscreants and criminals as different patriotic Nigerians have expressed similar concerns and even condemned the act of maiming, killing, destruction of property and other criminalities perpetrated by the masqueraders.”
