The Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, has offered to tame the growing insecurity in the Southwest within six months, as he sought audience with governors of the states in the region to work out the modalities.
Adams, in a letter addressed to Governor Abiodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State on Tuesday, lamented the growing threat to security across the states and promised to bring it under control if the state governors give him the permission.
The state of insecurity took a disturbing dimension recently when a gang of kidnappers attacked three Ekiti State traditional rulers, killing two of them– the Onimojo of Imojo, Oba Olatunde Olusola; and the Elesun of Esun Ekiti, Oba Babatunde Ogunsakin, on the spot, while the Alara of Ara Ekiti, Oba Adebayo Fatoba, narrowly escaped.
The Aare Onakakanfo expressed concern over the spate of violent attacks taking place in Yoruba-speaking communities in Nigeria, saying “the more than 60 million Yorubas living in the South-West, South-South, and North-Central of Nigeria are troubled.”
According to him, there was never a time in the history of Yoruba land when three Obas were killed in the space of four days.
He, however, said he would need the permission of the state governors, who are the Chief Security Officers of their respective states to go after the assailants.
“When I was installed as the 15th Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba land by the (late) Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, on January 13, 2018, I vowed, before the distinguished audience, that I would do everything to project the image and protect the name of Yoruba land.
“Sadly, my zeal to protect Yoruba land, and the will of millions of Yoruba to defend their fatherland, are being tested with the invasion of some parts of our land by these killers.”
“I told them that as the Aare Ona Kakanfo, I have the capacity and the network to deal with enemies of Yoruba land. But, I reminded them that even in the days of yore, the Aare Ona Kakanfo must get permission from the Alaafin of Oyo before embarking on any conquest.
“Now, we are in the 21st century, elected governors are the Chief Security Officers of their respective states. For me to move against enemies of Yoruba in this land, I will need their permission and cooperation.
“Aside the Oodua Peoples Congress, which has solid networks in all the wards, villages, towns and cities in Yoruba land, I also control 13 other groups working with the OPC.
“We already have the troops and logistics to flush out undesirable elements in the land but I need the permission of our governors.
“Your Excellency sir, for this war to be fought effectively, coordination is central. And as the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba land, I have my strategy and I am ready to give you my maximum support as the Chief Security Officer of your state. I can assure you that within six months, insecurity will reduce drastically across the South-West.
“I write to have an urgent meeting with Your Excellency and other governors on this threat to our collective existence. Obviously, the agenda will centre on security in Yoruba land. All the governors will also decide the date, venue and time for the meeting.
“It is high time we stopped this cancer that is spreading its virus across Yoruba land. We must act now before the situation becomes unbearable
