Afenifere blasts DAWN Commission for trivialising insecurity in South-West

PAN Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere has blasted the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission over its assertion that Western Nigeria remained “largely peaceful, safe, welcoming and harmonious to all law-abiding people and not in a state of crisis.”

Afenifere, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Yinka Odumakin, on Sunday, described as insulting the attempt by DAWN Commission to play down the threat to the South West by calling on “all influential leaders to exercise restraint in spreading unfounded and unsubstantiated messages and incitements and counter such with messages of tolerance, respect and peace.”

Though DAWN commission had, in the statement, condemned the threat to lives and properties to the people of Western Nigeria, it urged Nigerians, on all forms of social/traditional media, to act responsibly and refrain from using or condoning any language that may escalate tensions.

Making references to instances of kidnap, rape killings in the South West, Afenifere described as insensitive, insulting, embarrassing and deeply annoying DAWN commission’s Friday statement where it attempted to calm frayed nerves.

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Afenifere argued that a situation which had assumed a point where people were afraid to travel on most roads in the zone should not be belittled.

While lauding the decision of South West governors to organize a summit on the issue of insecurity in the zone, Afenifere added that DAWN commission’s position on insecurity in the region amounted to adding insult upon injury and a mockery of the situation of things.

The statement read, “Afenifere welcomes the decision of South West Governors to do something over the siege on Yorubaland by Fulani herdsmen /militia. The situation has degenerated to the point that our people are now afraid to travel on most of the roads in the zone as their safety cannot be guaranteed.

“But our enthusiasm was dampened by the insensitive, insulting and deeply annoying statement put out by the DAWN commission the Governors charged with the assignment.

It is with pain in our hearts that we quote from the embarrassing publication.

“It would be sad if the quoted words from DAWN represent the views of our Governors in the midst of the monumental tragedy that has befallen our people in the hands of invading marauders.

“The Yoruba lady raped for 6 days by Fulani herdsmen in the presence of her 9- year old daughter and husband will curse the authors of this. The Professor at Ife who narrated his ordeal in the hands of Fulani kidnappers would regret sharing the same nationality with those issuing this kind of statement.

“Of course the several people that have been killed on our land should be weeping in their graves now. Our people would not mind if they are reading this from Miyetti Allah in this grievous moment but coming from their own is insult upon injury.

“The Yoruba have a saying that “Orisa bo le gbemi, semi bi o se ba mi.”(The deity that cannot improve my condition should not worsen my plight). This is our admonition at this time to officialdom in Yorubaland.

“If we are not ready to solve the problem confronting our people, let us not insult them, mock their fate or trivialize what they are going through.

“We encourage our people not to be despondent at this moment. Nothing good or bad lasts forever. This too shall come to pass!”