Prominent Yoruba leaders on Thursday gathered to review cases of kidnapping in the South West region of the country. The leaders, who converged to hon
Prominent Yoruba leaders on Thursday gathered to review cases of kidnapping in the South West region of the country. The leaders, who converged to honour the memory and legacies of Awolowo at the book presentation of the Yoruba translation of his autobiography titled ‘Awo’ by Alaroye, also decried the insecurity in the land.
Referring to a recent security summit, one of the speakers at the event, Chief Ayo Adebanjo accused South-West governors, except Governor Makinde, of paying lip service to the issue of insecurity for fear of not offending a national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Bola Tinubu. Adebanjo said Nigerians must be ready to liberate themselves if their leaders failed to live up to their constitutional responsibility of providing security.
Alaafin who minced no words over the insecurity in the land, said, “At the national level today, we have unprecedented state of insecurity culminated by kidnapping, Fulani herdsmen harassment and all sorts of criminality that have enveloped Yorubaland today. The Yoruba are proud of their harmonious relationship with indigenous Fulani which has spread over many centuries. Such relationships have led to inter- ethnic marriages and business entrepreneurships. At that time, cattle herders carried stick to direct the movement of their cattle.
“It was unlike now when supposed herders are armed sophistically like soldiers. At that time, farming and rearing were complementary unlike now where they are targeted against each other. As far as I am concerned, there is no solution to the current national challenge than the restructuring of our federal system to the glorious old days with some modifications where necessary. As of now, the centre is too powerful beyond any mortal capacity to supervise and superintend the whole national security.”
In his contribution, the Aare Ona Kankanfo of Yorubaland, Otunba Gani Adams said, “We should do whatever we have to deliver ourselves. I can still roll out one million Yoruba people. The Miyeti Allah is taking out their plans one after the other, while the eastern governors kicked against it, our governors are trying to be diplomatic about the matter. We won’t allow insecurity to overwhelm us. We will not allow it to distract us from pursuing restructuring.”
Similarly, the spokesperson for Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin, appealed to traditional rulers to warn South-West governors against giving herders land for Ruga settlement.
