Igboho, Iru Èkùn: Act Now Before Parallel Authority Emerges — Agunbiade

Igboho, Iru Èkùn: Act Now Before Parallel Authority Emerges — Agunbiade

 

‘No individual, group should be above law’

 

A member of Al-Rabwa Islamic Propagation in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Mallam Ibrahim Agunbiade, has called on the Federal Government and security agencies to urgently investigate the reported confrontation involving Yoruba activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Igboho, members of Iru Èkùn and the attempted arrest of Tani Olohun.

 

Agunbiade warned that Nigeria must not wait until resistance to state authority becomes entrenched before taking action, stressing that the rule of law must remain supreme.

 

He made the call in a statement issued on Sunday, titled, “Before the Leopard’s Tail Metamorphoses into the Leopard: Igboho, Iru Èkùn and Tani Olohun: Why Nigerians Must Speak Before Parallel Authority Takes Root.”

 

According to him, the reported incident raises a fundamental question: whether a private group should be allowed to prevent the police from executing a lawful court order simply because its members disagree with an arrest.

 

He said the issue should concern all Nigerians, irrespective of ethnic, religious or political affiliations.

 

“This is not about whether Igboho is popular or unpopular. It is not about whether Tani Olohun is guilty or innocent. Every accused person deserves due process and a fair hearing.

 

“But due process also means allowing lawful institutions to perform their duties,” Agunbiade stated.

 

He advised anyone who believes that an arrest warrant is defective to challenge it in court, while those who believe the police have acted unlawfully should seek redress through the appropriate legal channels.

 

“If a warrant is defective, challenge it in court. If the police act unlawfully, seek redress through the courts. If an allegation is false, defend it before the appropriate authority,” he said.

 

Agunbiade warned that the use of organised groups to obstruct law enforcement could gradually undermine state institutions and create what he described as “parallel authority.”

 

He said dangerous developments often begin with genuine grievances and popular movements, but could eventually evolve into situations where loyalty to a group becomes stronger than respect for established institutions.

 

“A movement may begin with genuine grievances. A popular leader emerges. Followers rally around him. With time, loyalty may become stronger than respect for institutions.

 

“Eventually, the group may begin to determine which laws it will obey and which government officers it will recognise. That is where the danger lies,” he said.

 

However, Agunbiade was careful to distinguish his concerns from any allegation that Iru Èkùn or Igboho was associated with terrorism.

 

“Let me be clear: I am not saying that Iru Èkùn is Boko Haram, nor that Igboho or its members are destined to become Boko Haram. Such a claim would be irresponsible,” he said.

 

He argued that Nigeria should nevertheless learn from the evolution of violent extremism in the country, particularly the emergence of Boko Haram, by addressing early signs of the erosion of respect for lawful state authority.

 

According to him, the country should not wait until a group becomes powerful enough to challenge the authority of the state before responding.

 

“If a group can stop an arrest today, what happens tomorrow when another group decides to stop an investigation, resist a court order or establish its own rules of enforcement?

 

“That is how parallel authority takes root,” he warned.

 

Agunbiade also called for equal application of the law, stressing that no individual should be above the law because of his popularity, political influence or social standing.

 

“No individual should be above the law, not an activist, politician, traditional ruler, religious leader or social-media influencer,” he said.

 

On the case involving Tani Olohun, Agunbiade said the allegations against him should be tested through the judicial process.

 

“If Tani Olohun has committed an offence, let the evidence be tested in court. If he is innocent, let him be cleared.

 

“If Igboho or any member of Iru Èkùn unlawfully obstructed the police, the allegation should equally be investigated and, where established, prosecuted.

 

“Justice cannot be selective,” he said.

 

The Islamic scholar also cited Qur’an 5:2, which urges Muslims to cooperate in righteousness and piety but not in sin and aggression.

 

He said the principle demonstrated that Muslims could defend an individual’s legitimate rights without supporting unlawful conduct.

 

Agunbiade urged the Federal Government and security agencies to conduct an impartial investigation into the incident, respect lawful judicial orders and protect the rights of all persons involved.

 

He said Nigerians should speak up now to protect the rule of law rather than wait until private groups become powerful enough to challenge state authority.

 

“We must speak now, not because we have concluded that anyone is a terrorist, but because the rule of law must never become negotiable,” he stated.

 

Agunbiade concluded by calling for stronger institutions and lawful activism, rather than what he described as mob power and parallel authority.

 

“Let us not keep silent until the leopard’s tail metamorphoses into the leopard.

 

“Nigeria needs strong institutions, not private armies. We need justice, not mob power. We need activism within the law, not parallel authority.

 

“The gavel must remain stronger than the crowd. The Constitution must remain stronger than the personality. And the law must remain stronger than the group,” he said.

 

Igboho, Iru Èkùn: Act Now Before Parallel Authority Emerges — Agunbiade