By Dan Kanu
Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, has condemned the alleged N100 billion funds allocated to Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), insisting that such allocation will further encourage the rise of additional pressure groups across the nat
Adams made his views known in a statement he personally signed made available to The Niche stating that such funds should be channelled to other productive areas, to avoid crisis in other zones, particularly, in the Niger Delta region.
Adams noted that N100bn for Miyetti Allah is very much higher than the total budget package for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NNDC) for three years, arguing that the move can trigger avoidable crisis across all the zones.
The statement read in part “The issue at stake is about the spate of insecurity across the nation, it is not limited to the North. Therefore, the Federal Government needs to be cautious on the move. Here in the southwest, the spate of insecurity is raging.
“For instance, in Akokoland, in Ondo State, which happens to be my hometown, there were series of attacks and kidnapping that had been raging and still on the increase. People have been killed and kidnapped at will, and the situation still continues till the present moment.
“Last year, Chief Olu Falae’s farm was invaded and destroyed by this group of herdsmen. Chief Alani Akinrinade also suffered the same fate. In Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, a prominent Yoruba son lost several millions to the activities of these killer herdsmen.
“Several
other people in the South-West had had the bitter experience. A
situation whereby an Oba in Akokoland and a lecturer from Obafemi
Awolowo University were kidnapped along Ilesha-Ife road, and released
after paying huge five million naira as ransom is pathetic and not too
good for the nation.”
He urged the Federal
Government, to as a matter of urgency, extend the new security
arrangement to other zones assuring that, in the southwest, there are
groups that are keen to support government’s initiatives on reducing the
spate of insecurity in the zone.
However, he commended President Muhammadu Buhari on his views about federalism, urging him to handle it the way he handled the June 12 issue.
Said Adams “With the new situation, I think Mr. President has an idea of what we have been saying all these days about true federalism and restructuring. Nigeria’s problems can only be solved with true federalism,” .
He advised Buhari to be cautious of some dubious and selfish politicians who may want to discourage him, from handling the issue of federalism to the benefit of the country.
