By Kehinde Okeowo
There is a common saying that a great warrior is often defined by his ability to discern when to advance or retreat in the battle field and that any warrior who fails to employ this tactic, ends up a captive. This consideration must have spurred the people of south western Nigeria to demand that incidences of kidnapping, rape, robbery, killing, arson and other social vices which rose astronomically in their region be urgently curtailed by their leaders. It is true that these occurrences cannot be wished away and are bound in all human societies, but when the rapidity assumes dangerous dimension, like a true warrior, the people must rise to defend their territories. In an era where governors that simply lack strategic impetus to protect their citizens hide under the limitations of the constitution is no longer tenable, people must demand realistic structures that empower state chief executives to effectively police their territories and held accountable for breach of peace.
South-West security concern
The predominant ethnic nationality in the south-western part of the country is Yoruba and they are highly cerebral. They certainly have learnt a lesson or two from the noxious activities of Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Bandits which brought the entire northern Nigeria to its knee and created refugee camps all over the region. They are also familiar with the origin of the insurgency and how it assumed dangerous dimension. They recognize that what started as little misunderstanding between farmers and herdsmen in their region has since snow-balled into more concerning trends of kidnapping, killings and other social vices which can consume them as a people, if allowed to fester the way it did up north. The failure of federal government to halt the carnages in the north and protect its citizens from the menace of kidnapers, herdsmen and bandits and the obvious lack of strategy from the elected leaders in Yoruba states to secure their lives and properties have left doubts in the minds of the entire populace and left them apprehensive.
Miyetti Allah’s complicity
It is pertinent to state that kidnapping and other crimes are not exclusive preserve of a peculiar ethnic group or professionals. But when numerous accounts of eye witnesses and victims of kidnaps and rapes affirmed that most of the perpetuators act in ways only similar to that of herders, Miyetti Allah, the trade association under which they operate, must make efforts to change this narrative. They must as a matter of fact join hands with governments, security agencies and host communities to fish out criminal elements among the herders rather than get defensive and make inflammatory statements that can only worsen the crisis. They must enlighten their members on how to regain the trust of their host communities; re-orientate them to understand that open grazing is now archaic and ranching is the modern way to go.
Failure of elected leaders
In crisis situation, when an individual not constitutionally empowered to speak on behalf of the people does so and receives the backing of a sizeable number, the government of the day must reassess its legitimacy. The most important duty of government at all levels is security of lives and properties and with the level of bloodshed all over the country, Nigeria’s elected officials does not need a referendum to know they have failed woefully. As it stands today, people no longer trust government to protect them, most homes and communities now engage the services of local militias for protection rather than depend on police. This is indeed an aberration, elected officials and security agencies must wake up to their responsibilities for tranquility to once again reign in our communities.
Is Ighoho truly a hero?
A lot of applauds and criticisms have greeted the way Sunday Adeniyi Adeyemo popularly known as Sunday Ighoho and Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State responded to the nefarious activities of herders in their respectively states. Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state has also had his fair share of criticism on the matter. Sunday Ighoho’s call for his kinsmen to rise up and defend their territories against the despicable activities of some herdsmen is actually commendable but does this make him a true hero? If his account of stewardship under politicians in the past is anything to go by, then he is at best a willing tool in their hands and cannot erase the past to suddenly earn the status of a hero. His recent outbursts against a revered Yoruba king, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ooni of Ife and Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God did little to help his course and further called into question his character and understanding of what a true Yoruba son “Omoluabi” is. He merely profited from Governor Seyi Makinde indiscretion to remain politically correct in the face of critical security challenge facing his state.
Conclusion
In every democratic society, everyone deserves to be heard and seeking creation of Yoruba nation remains an inalienable right of the proponents of this clarion call. However, these agitators must know it does guarantee peace. After all, Modakeke and Ife went up in arms against each other despite being two Yoruba communities. It also doesn’t ensure an egalitarian society; a case in point is that despite the fact that Ogun State was created over forty-five years ago and has had five civilian governors, is yet to produce a governor from Ogun-West senatorial district of the state. Finally, it is not a prerequisite for prosperity; Western Nigeria under the leadership of Chief Obafemi Awolowo witnessed tremendous growth and development despite being part of Nigeria. Therefore, creating a new nation is not a magic wand to end insecurity, a country where federating units are constitutionally empowered to secure their domain, create wealth and leaders are made accountable to people is a more pragmatic solution.
