The Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) has called upon the country’s security agencies to ensure justice for the late Nigerian singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba, widely known as Mohbad.
The Yoruba socio-political organization expressed that if Mohbad had shared his troubles, the OPC would have provided him with protection from his assailants.
Additionally, the OPC urged the police and the Department of State Services (DSS) to hold accountable any individuals or groups involved in the oppression, harassment, and assault leading to the singer’s demise.
In a condolence message addressed to Mohbad’s immediate family, management team, and fans worldwide, Otunba Wasiu Afolabi, the President of the OPC, described the tragic death as both immeasurable and preventable. The message was signed by the organization’s General Secretary, Bunmi Fasehun.
He said, “OPC sees the death of this promising, hardworking, and talented young musician as a personal loss because he was a true Yoruba Ambassador, whose songs and craftsmanship promoted the Yoruba language and people.
However, we believe he, his parents, and management ought to have involved the OPC when the disagreement between Mohbad and other associates escalated to the point of intimidation, assault, and haunting.
OPC has successfully mediated in such cases in the past and we have brought peace and harmony to such feuding parties to the satisfaction of all and sundry.
Sometimes we act alone and sometimes in collaboration with the Police Force, Civil Defence and DSS. But at the end of the day, we protect the weak against the strong oppressor.
Where necessary, we can take the case directly to the government. But in most cases, the mere mention of OPC being involved will bring sanity to all concerned, no matter who that person or organisation considers himself to be.
And I dare say that Mohbad would have lived a better quality of life, and would most likely be alive today if he and his people had brought his troubles to OPC.
Meanwhile, we want to use this medium to urge the police, DSS and government to bring to justice all the individuals and groups who contributed to the oppression, harassment and beating of this young man. It doesn’t matter whether such tormentors contributed directly or indirectly to his death. There is enough video evidence and living witnesses to give Mohbad justice in the law courts, even if the charges will be for assault, battery, conduct capable of causing a breach of the peace, and attempted murder.
In addition, all the police officers and formations that refused to act in his complaints should all be brought to book for official sanctioning.”
Afolabi highlighted that the OPC, as a socio-cultural organization, upholds the values of peace, justice, and community and national security.
He reminisced about the organization’s establishment in 1994 by its late founder, Dr. Frederick Fasehun, and its significant role in safeguarding petroleum pipelines in the South-West region.
Afolabi further emphasized that during the peak of its fight against military governance, the OPC boasted an impressive membership of over six million individuals.
