The roll call was not only long but equally regal. They had come from Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Ekiti, Kwara, Kogi and Lagos states. They were the traditional rulers of the Southwest and obas from Kogi and Kwara states. As traditional rulers and lovers of their people, they had gathered to deliberate and find possible ways out of the present frustrations of their subjects in their domains and the nation at large. It had been a long weekend for them as they exchanged notes and perceptions on what the recommendations would be for them.
The Yoruba Obas’ Forum comprising traditional rulers from the aforementioned states had deliberately decided to set the agenda for actions to be taken against kidnapping, deaths and destruction occasioned by killer herdsmen, fake or diaspora obas which as they insisted lacked legality and the need to seek special partnership with governments at all levels for the development of the South west and the nation at large.
Present at the gathering which was held at the Kakanfo Inn and Conference Centre, on Monday, June 24, 2019, were Oba John Bolarinwa, Onigboho of Igboho; Oba Solagbade Osokowu, Alado of Ado, Sagamu; Oba Adeoye Adigun, Aare of Ofiki; Oba Ayeni Adesoji, Owaloja; Oba Adedayo Sogbulu; Oba Ayilara Omolaoye, Olu of Owode Ofaru; Oba Odidiomo Afolabi, Olugbokoda; Oba Ademola Olusanu; Oba Ariyo Ade, Onibala; Oba Toye Alatishe, Gbegande; Oba Kazeem Ade Orioye, Onigege; Oba Ogunleye Zikirullah, Olowu Ilemowu; Oba Idowu Adetunji, Alagbonle; Oba Akinleye Akinfemi, Onimia; Oba Samuel Adeoye, Molokun; Oba Jamiu Onosipe; Oba Olusegun Ogunye; Oba Francis Agbede, Olowa of Igbara Oke; Oba Mukaila Eleposo, Eleposo of Eposo Remo; Oba Kazeem Gbadamosi, Ologijo of Ogijo; Oba Ola Balogun, Onirokun; Oba Dairo Olutayo; Oba Muftau Ade Yusuf, among others.
The following emerged as the interim executive members of the forum: Oba Samuel Adeoye, interim president; Oba Olusegun Ogunye, acting legal adviser; Oba Asunmo Ganiyu Aderibigbe, Oba Taiwo Adesoji Ayeni, Oba Francis Adefarakanmi Agbede, Oba Adeoye Gbenga Adigun and Oba Kofoworola Abodunrin Oyetunji.
The traditional rulers spoke one after another condemning the spate of insecurity across the nation, narrowing it down to the Southwest. In his submission, Oba Aderibigbe called on the Federal Government to rise to the occasion and ensure that the country is safe, just as he called on relevant government agencies to ensure the protection of lives and property.
“The Federal Government has to do the needful. Our security agencies must be equipped so as to meet the challenges of the day. Government at all levels must partner with traditional rulers in helping to ensure that lives are no longer lost.
“Traditional rulers should be very watchful when selling land so as not to sell land to herdsmen who would later turn to be a problem to the host community. The safety of Southwest is important just as the safety of the entire nation,” he said.
In his submission, Oba Adeoye Adigun chastised those who are making the country unsafe saying that such must stop if the nation would make the expected progress.
According to him, “as traditional rulers, we cannot continue to watch as our people get slaughtered, kidnapped and their farms destroyed. We have a commitment as royal fathers to protect our domains but we need both state and Federal Government to play the role that is expected of it. We cannot continue like this as a nation. Nigeria belongs to all of us and its wellbeing is paramount to us.”
Oba Samuel Adeoye criticised those who are bent on making the Southwest unsafe. “We are the traditional rulers of the people and we know where the shoe pinches. We are the closest to them. We want security in the Southwest. We want peace in our domains. The killer herdsmen must be stopped and particularly made to face the full wrath of the law. Something drastic and immediate must be done to arrest this ugly trend. Yoruba land is important to the wellbeing of the nation and except we fight for its wellness, how far can the country go? The government must equip all our security agencies to ensure that they can face the challenges ahead of them,” he said.
The traditional rulers also called on the relevant authorities to partner with Yoruba obas in formulating policies and their implementations so as to bring the needed development to Yoruba land. The forum also condemned in strong terms what they referred to as ‘fake and diaspora obas’. They called on the government to continue to implement the chief’s law so as to curb the illegality of fake traditional rulers.
After the lengthy deliberation, the forum came up with the following communiqué: “The Yoruba Obas’ Forum met at Kakanfo Inn and Conference Centre, Ibadan to consider several issues affecting the Yoruba nation. After deliberating on (a) The security situation in the country particularly as it affects Yoruba land; (b) Reinvigoration of our traditional institution and (c) Diaspora and fake Obas, the Forum came up with the following resolutions.
“Appraising the security situation in the country: As a result of the unspeakable and alarming rate of insecurity and activities of supposed Fulani herdsmen and kidnappers in the country especially in Yoruba land, Yoruba Obas unanimously agreed that the following measures should be taken! Henceforth, no Yoruba Oba should allocate any portion of land for the purpose of grazing cattle especially to the Fulani herdsmen without due investigation to ascertain the genuineness of the venture. It is advised that the Fulanis committing these atrocities should be pronounced terrorists and the Federal Government must take measures at the earliest possible time. The law enforcement agencies should be properly equipped to forestall the security challenges affecting the nation. The Federal Government must take action against those bankrolling the activities of these notorious Fulani killerherdsmen.
“It is indeed germane for Yoruba Obas to utilise our traditional system in enhancing security. We must reinforce our local security outfits and community policing to curtail all source of security menace. In order to arrest the spate of insecurity across the country, the Forum calls for the establishment of state and community policing.
“On Diaspora and fake obas: After a fruitful deliberation on the above subject matter, the forum strongly condemned the illegal enthronement or recognition of any person(s) or groups parading the paraphernalia of Yoruba Obaship or linking themselves to any institution of Yoruba Obaship. We therefore submit that the full implementation of the Chieftaincy Law be allowed to take effect to stop such illegality.
“Reinvigorating the Yoruba traditional institution: The unity of Obas in Yoruba land is non-negotiable and all must be done to foster such harmony. Governments at all levels should give the needed support, as a matter of urgency, to traditional rulers in Yoruba land in safeguarding their domains. The Federal Ministry of Agriculture, state and local governments should work directly with traditional rulers in revamping the agricultural sector in order to boost food security. Governments at all levels should partner directly with traditional rulers in meaningful policy formulations (economic, social, security, education, etc) and implementations.”
and then