The Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, has described as a blessing in disguise the recent event that played out during the crusade for the establishment of SouthWest security outfit codenamed “Operation Amotekun,” saying the Yoruba spoke with one voice in their efforts to make sure that the new initiative came alive.
This was just as the Yoruba generalissimo dismissed the insinuations in some quarters that the motive behind the formation of the security outfit was for political reasons.
Adams made the assertion while speaking at the on-going Oodua Progressive Union (OPU) World Congress in Ado, Ekiti State capital, pointing out that the SouthWest had no plan to secede as the country’s unity was part of the nation’s success story despite its leadership problem.
“For us in the SouthWest, Amotekun has been a blessing to us because though, the outfit was established for the protection of our people and to stem the tide of armed robbery, kidnapping, illegal destruction of lives and property. This is the first time that the entire region was united on the need to raise a security platform to complement the existing security agencies to protect the lives and property of our people which was our constitutional duty.
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“It is necessary for our governors to have our own security network. Life is precious. You don’t politicise the issue of security.
“Let me allay the fears in some quarters that Amotekun has a political bearing toward the SouthWest’s secession plan.
“This is not true. The SouthWest is not seceding from Nigeria. The SouthWest zone remains part of Nigeria and it will remain committed to a united and indivisible Nigerian federation,” he said.
Iba Adams applauded the courage of the six SouthWest governors, noting that the agreement reached between the Federal Government and governors in the zone on the security network made the victory inevitable.
Speaking further, the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba land decried appointments into key positions in the country under President Buhari, which he said had been in favour of one particular region, cautioning him not destroy the unity and foundation of the nation with nepotism in appointing government officials.
“For instance, most important and influential positions at the Federal level from one to fifteen are Northerners. It is this government that has marginalised the SouthWest most in the area of public offices appointments. Buhari’s govt is tainted with nepotism. You have a situation whereby only two SouthWest judges are appointed in about 20 judges in the Federation and the rest are Northerners.
“This is clear nepotism and it should be stopped in order not to destroy the foundation and unity of this great nation which the OPU is projecting abroad,” Adams said.
On OPU World Congress, the Aareonakakanfo said it was initiated to determinedly promote the culture of the Yoruba race all over the world, disclosing that the body is presently in 87 countries.
“OPU is a group of Yoruba sons and daughters spreading across the seven continents in the world. And their intention is to promote the Yoruba cultural identity, heritage and traditions. It is their aims to sustain our tradition, and using it to drive social network, economic integration, creating jobs as well as boosting tourism,” he said.
Prominent guests present at the ongoing summit included the Ekiti State Commissioner for Arts and Culture, Prof. Rasak Ojo Bakare; Director General, Ministry of Arts and Culture, Ambassador Wale Ojo-Lanre; Chairman, Ekiti World Congress, Prince Olawale Ayinla; the guest lecturer, Jadesola Tai Babatola and Chief Jimoh Aliu.
Others are; Chief Gani Kayode Balogun, Osi Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland; Chief Ebudola Odedina, Fiwagboye Aareonakakanfo; Chief Victor Adewale, Akingbayi Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland and Coordinator OPU Europe, Secretary-General of OPU, Prince Lanre Sunmonu, Yeyeluwa Alice Eniola, among others.