Insecurity in S-West: Yoruba must return to ancestral roles — Monarchs, traditional worshipers

•Say politicians have belittled kingship

•Kings don’t speak with one voice anymore

•We’ve not jettisoned traditional ways of protecting ourselves —Olugbon of Orile

•Clamour for state police re-echoes

•S-West govs must arm Amotekun —Monarchs

•It’s time for community policing, traditional solutions —Ooni

•We’re devising means to secure our communities, forests —Deji of Akureland

We lack motivation from governors —Soludero hunters

WHEN kidnapping and wanton destruction of lives and property abated after the introduction of the Western Nigeria Security Network codenamed Amotekun, people in the South-West heaved a sigh of relief thinking they could now sleep with two eyes closed. 

But the sudden resurgence of the heinous crime which culminated in the killing of two kings in Ekiti State by bandits, has increased their fear. 

With the cases of the two monarchs in Ekiti and another in Kwara in mind, they continue asking, if fire can consume a tortoise with an iron coat, what will it not do to the fowl with a feathered gown? Meaning: If revered kings could be hacked down like chickens by the bandits, what would be their lot as their subjects?

Some traditional rulers including the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; the chairman of the Ondo State Council of Obas and the Deji of Akureland, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi; the Ogun State Chairman, Council of Obas, who is the Akarigbo of Remoland, Oba Babatunde Ajayi and the Deputy Chairman of the Oyo State Council of Obas, the Olugbon of Orile Igbon, Oba Francis Alao said measures are in place to revert to traditional means to protect the region.

However, some traditionalists including the President of the Traditional Worshippers Association of Nigeria, Mr Adefabi Fadiran and Chief Yemi Elebuibon, who is an Ifa priest, argued that Yoruba people, especially the kings, are disconnected from their origin and ancestry.

 Yoruba monarchs coming up with a position—Olugbon of Orile

Inferring from the comments of the Deputy Chairman of the Oyo State Council of Obas, the Olugbon of Orile Igbon, Oba Francis Alao, who expressed a personal view on measures to be taken to nip the inhuman act in the bud, it appears the bandits who have been terrorising the zone have now swallowed a long pestle and they have to sleep upright.

He noted that traditional rulers in the zone, including the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, will soon come up with a position on the incident and measures to check future occurrences.

His words: “We are making consultations across board-in Oyo State and the South-West. Two days ago, I spoke with the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi. We want to come up with strategic points on what is going on.”

 S-West govs must arm Amotekun

On the need for the South-West governors to arm Amotekun operatives, Oba Alao said: “We want to look at things holistically; we want to sit down with stakeholders. One important thing is that we want to advise all the South-West governors to procure arms for Amotekun.” 

As part of measures to reduce tension arising from insecurity, Olugbon said that it is evident that the central police can’t tackle the issue any longer adding that there is an urgent need to consider the issue of state police which has been in the front burner for many years.

 We’ve not jettisoned traditional way of protecting ourselves—Olugbon of Orile

The monarch dismissed the notion that kings have jettisoned the traditional way of securing their domains and themselves.

He said: “I’m not going to say that we have jettisoned the traditional way of protecting ourselves. As for me, I observe all norms, processes or procedures of traditions which we do to protect ourselves. But, at the same time, what was applicable forty or twenty years ago is not what is applicable today when it comes to the issue of kingship.”

 Politicians have belittled kingship

“Politicians,” he alleged, “have overtaken everywhere. So, kingship doesn’t mean anything to the politicians again, they just see us as tools during the election period. We have to go back to the drawing board, restrategize and put things in proper perspectives. Things have changed drastically.”

In an attempt to douse tension in the region, the monarch said: “The South-West people should not panic because there’s an underground consultation that is ongoing. When we finish, we will come up with a position.”

 We lack motivation from governors —Soludero hunters

Also speaking on steps taken so far to check the rising insecurity in the zone, the National President of Soludero Hunters’ Association, Oba Nureni Akintola said the only impediment the hunters have in securing the zone is a lack of motivation by the state government.

 He said: “The little we have been able to do was done through the sheer love we have for our people. Nobody is giving any incentive to us. We use our money to fund the only car we have. No one is looking at our side despite the yeoman’s job we have done in the aspect of security.

 ”To worsen the case, some conventional securitymen are not helping issues. Even as I speak with you, I have told my men to be on red alert in the forests across the South-West. Very soon, you begin to hear from us.”

 It’s time for community policing, traditional solution —Ooni

On his part, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi described the killing of traditional rulers as a sacrilege of Yoruba traditional institution.

The monarch, who spoke through his Director of Publicity and Palace Affairs, Moses Olafare, stressed that it is high time the Federal Government prioritised the establishment of community policing with traditional rulers having a constitutional role to play in securing their communities.

He said: “The Federal Government to prioritize the establishment of community policing across the nation as the recent spate of killings and kidnappings of traditional rulers and school children across the country highlights the urgent need for a robust, community-oriented security system.

“Community policing, with emphasis on local involvement, will be helpful to enhance intelligence-gathering, deter criminal activities, and ensure the safety of Nigerians.

“The time should not be later than now for government both at state and federal levels to show practical capacity in the area of security management and operations. The traditional rulers in Nigeria must be motivated with statutory community policing policy needed to work officially with the government as we remain the closest leaders to the people.

“We know the traditional techniques to get rid of all these unfortunate situations, we are no cowards and we are ready to rise to the occasion defending our traditional land. Get us statutorily involved and see that what we inherited from our respective ancestors is still intact and real,” Ooni said.

 We’re devising traditional means to secure our communities, forests —Deji of Akureland

Speaking with Vanguard, the chairman of the Ondo State Council of Obas and the Deji of Akureland, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, said measures are being taken to secure communities and forests in the region.

Oba Aladelusi said: “The issue of insecurity is not peculiar to the South-West but the recent turn of events especially the killings and abduction of monarchs, students amongst others, has reached a highly worrisome stage.”

The monarch, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Michael Adeyeye said: “The murder of traditional rulers in Ekiti and Kwara states has heightened the level of insecurity in the South-West and called for a serious concern.

“As Obas in Ondo State, we are already devising and exploring means to ensure that we secure our communities and forests. 

“There is no doubt that Amotekun alone cannot comb our forests to smoke out these criminals, all hands must be on deck to nip insecurity in the bud.

“We have all agreed, as a council of Obas, on the need to strengthen our local vigilantes and ensure that they relate effectively with security agencies. 

“We are now encouraging synergies and sharing of necessary and relevant security information among communities to make it more effective.

“Presently, we are equally devising the traditional means to address this escalating issue. I would not want to divulge the details for some obvious reasons. 

“But let me assure you that we are leaving no stone unturned in ensuring that insecurity in the South-West is quickly addressed. 

“I wish to emphatically say that we are in constant touch with the government as a way of collaborating to make our efforts effective.

“However, you can see the need why we have been clamouring for the creation of state police as well as a constitutional role for traditional rulers.

“We wish to use this avenue to appeal to the president to create a role for traditional rulers considering their nearness to the people at the grassroots. 

“In the interim, we urge the Federal Government to grant the licence of AK-47 weapon to fortify the regional security outfit.”

The security situation is very worrisome —Akarigbo of Remoland

When contacted, the Ogun State Chairman, Council of Obas, who is the Akarigbo of Remoland, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, described the security in the South-West as worrisome, saying that it is a sad commentary on the state of insecurity in the country.

Akarigbo said: “The security situation is very worrisome. On behalf of all the Obas in Ogun State, I commiserate with the families of all those who have been affected. It is now apparent that the issue of state police ought to be revisited as a matter of urgency.”

 We’ll protect our lands with traditional means —Olu Isese Agbaye

On his part, the Olu Isese Agbaye, Oba Ifarotimi Balogun, attributed the influx of bandits, kidnappers and terrorists to the region to the abandonment of our traditional means of protection, because of Western culture 

He said: “During the time of our forefathers, we had traditional means of protection in Yorubaland. There were some traditional things that our fathers buried at all the entrances of their communities. These serve as protection. Those things prevent any form of attack from getting into such communities.”

Yoruba must go back to their ancestral roles— Traditional worshipers

Speaking on the measures to check the ugly trend, the President of the Traditional Worshippers Association of Nigeria, Mr Adefabi Fadiran reasoned that Yoruba, especially the kings, are disconnected from their origin and ancestry.

He argued that that’s why bandits could have the effrontery of kidnapping an Oba.

His words: “Let’s go back to our foundation and ancestry that distinguishes us as Yoruba before the coming of foreign religions. I saw a town where there was an outbreak of a disease, it was the king that prepared some charms and then it stopped. 

“But now, our kings don’t speak with one voice again. In the meeting of traditional rulers, they would fight just because of minor differences. They passed a bill in Ogun State that Obas are free to practise any religion of their choice, can that happen in the Northern states? They have tested us and found out that our leaders are no longer being fortified, that’s why they are doing what they are doing.

“If they can attack a king, what other things can they not do? Could any kidnapper try to stop the late Alaafin, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi? Never! All of us know the truth. Now, they arrested the suspected kidnappers in Ekiti with the help of local hunters. It is when they are in trouble they remember our traditional power, but when it comes to governance and other largesse, they brand us as evil people. We are behind our travails. Everybody now lives in fear including me. Let’s go back to our roots, that is the only way to solve the problem.”

Culled from Vanguard