Formal education must be compulsory for fulani children —Oba Akanbi

The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdul-Rasheed Akanbi, has added his voice to the burning issue of killer herdsmen and incidence of kidnappings in Yorubaland. In this interview with TUNDE BUSARI, he speaks on the complexity of the Fulani’s relationship with their host Yoruba towns and communities, declaring that Iwo has the largest concentration of Fulani settlements.

There is no doubting the fact that the issue of herdsmen and kidnapping incidents in the South-west has created tension in the land. What is your take on the matter?

My take on the matter is very simple and straight forward. Regardless of what anybody says about my views, I remain a strong believer in this country called Nigeria. I am not an emotional person when it comes to national unity. This may be because of my long sojourn abroad with visits to over 50 countries across different continents. I understand what patriotism is all about. Go and watch the Americans while reciting their national anthem. You will see passion for the country. I believe this is how it should be rather than calling for disintegration of the country. It is even not good for a country to pass through such experience within half a decade. What I am saying is that we should find different ways round the current insecurity challenge we face.

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As a traditional ruler, what are the possible solutions to the problem based on your sojourn abroad and exposure to other civilisations?

We should understand that we are all citizens of one country, regardless of our different histories, culture and other differences. We should see our diversity from the angle of strength rather than the angle of liability. We should understand that Nigeria is recognized in international community as Nigeria, not as an ethnic group. This has always been my point of argument on this issue of insecurity. Don’t you hear that Fulanis too are subjects of attacks in the North? Who is behind these attacks should be our major concern instead of calling dog a bad name because we want to kill it.

But some Northern groups are alleged of making inflammatory statements which tend to provoke equal reactions from the South.

That is what I am talking about. To answer your question, I think this analogy will suffice. There is a player who leaves the ball and chases opponent. What do you think will happen at the end of the match? He will lose; he can’t win because by leaving the ball he has lost focus. The so-called statements you talked about are a mere distraction, which we should not waste our energy on. The substance of the matter is to identify the root of the matter with a view to uprooting it for permanent peace to reign.

Let us have another solution.

Another solution is education. In Yorubaland, education is an industry. Parents and guardians struggle to send their children and wards to school knowing full well what they stand to gain in the near future. This is not the experience in the North. That is why I recently said that federal government should mandate quality education for the Fulani children to at least secondary level. I said that apathy to education is a factor to untoward activities, including tendency to go into crime. I have visited them at their settlements. I can say it that my domain houses the largest concentration of Fulani settlements in Yorubaland. We are intimate since time immemorial with symbiotic relationship. We understand each other till date. I did not only appeal but also threatened to arrest parents who refuse to give quality education to their children.

Lack of quality education will unavoidably breed banditry. Strict penalty for kidnappers is a short term solution while mandating quality education is a long term panacea. The federal government led by President Muhammed Buhari must, as a matter of urgency, compel formal education for children of the Fulanis. Education is the key to control and decimate rampancy of criminals challenging the peace of Nigeria.

When you visited their settlements, what did you observe or rather discover in their way of life?

I like this question. Look, the people I found in the bush are peace-loving and hardworking too. What I saw in them always makes it look confusing when all sorts of things are attributed to them. They appeared harmless in true sense of it. Another thing I saw in them, which is important, is that they enjoy their life in isolated environment. They can only come to town and return to their settlement in the bush.

What does that imply to you?

The simple truth is that those people understand the bush, our forest than us. Can you believe that? How many of us go back to our family farm again? We believe that we are civilised, and civilized people don’t live in the farm. I am saying this with every sense of responsibility as traditional ruler that we need these people as they also need us because they can’t eat their raw milk which their wives make into wara and bring to town. We have come a long way, and that relationship should be sustained.

Can you sustain this plea with incidents of kidnappings attributed to them?

In whatever we do, let us put God first. That I am holding this views does not mean I am saying they are angel God sent to look after our environment. There is no way we can’t see some black sheep among them. I am reminding you the fact that some Fulanis had been attacked in the North? You must have heard about the in-law of President Muhammadu Buhari who was also kidnapped in Katsina State. The man was abducted in front of his house in Daura, the home town of the president. What does this tell you? Insecurity is a general problem, which we must confront with collective efforts. Two weeks ago too, mother of former Super Eagles player, Samson Siasia was also kidnapped in Bayelsa State. Again, what does this tell you? But as a Yoruba traditional ruler, I can say it boldly, with no apology to anyone, that Yoruba is not a coward as being peddled. We are blessed with the best. But we need to do away with some old ways which are inhibition to development.

How far with Iwo Central Mosque issue?

You are talking of the Oluwo Central Mosque. The mosque is extension of the palace separated only by the road which was constructed later. As long as the mosque is there, it remains the mosque of the Oluwo. That was how I met it, and that is how I will leave it. The mosque is our heritage which nobody should alter. It is even due for upgrading, and the world shall see what is ongoing as regards that. The palace too is due for upgrading. The constraint is there but it is not insurmountable. I am here for the purpose of giving Iwo a new face. I will not go until I complete the divine assignment. It is God who directed me to return here and provide leadership for my people. That assignment is huge but God shall see me through as He has done since I came in 2016.