S/West security summit: Aare Adams lauds governors

AAREONAKAKANFO of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Abiodun Ige Adams, on Sunday commended governors from the South-West for organising security summit in the region, saying the move which was long overdue would forestall further attacks on the region, and bring back the lost glory of the zone.

The state governors, including Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola (Osun), Mr Babajide Sanwoolu (Lagos), Mr Seyi Makinde (Oyo) and the Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Dr Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti had last week held a meeting on the rising spate of insecurity in the South-West.

Aare Adams, who had on two occasions had written letters to all the governors on the need to organise the summit, gave the commendation in a statement made available to Tribune Online, expressing optimism at the move.

He, however, said there was a need to fast-track the process leading to the summit as the South-West had almost lost its peace and credibility over the consistent attacks by the killer herdsmen ravaging the region.

“I must commend the efforts of the governors, it came at a time when the South-West had been gripped by the activities of the herdsmen and other social vices.

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“The South-West had almost lost its peace and credibility over the consistent attacks by the killer herdsmen ravaging the region.”

“As far as I am concerned, I believe the move will translate to further progress because it will further create an enabling environment for foreign investors that are interested in doing business in the region,” he said.

Speaking further, Adams contended that the move would further strengthen the unity of the region, expressing the belief that by the time the summit begins, it would enhance effective synergy between the governors.

“And as the chief security officer of their respective states, they are in the best position to coordinate all the security affairs of their respective states,” he added.

Aare Onakakanfo, while decrying the spate of insecurity in the country and blaming the incident on the weak institution and leadership failure, pointed out that as the generalissimo of the Yoruba race, the situation had placed huge pressure on him, particularly, from Nigerians in the Diaspora.

This was just as Adams said he had met with notable groups, both within and outside the shores of Nigeria, as part of efforts made to curtail the unfortunate incident that had taken the region backwards.

“The spate of insecurity in the country has affected the image of Nigeria in the world. I was out of the country for 18 days and came back to Nigeria just a few days ago, but the reports reaching me from home were pathetic.

“The herdsmen had taken over all the entire South-West, killing innocent people at will. But now that the South-West had risen to the occasion by organising the summit, I think it is a new dawn for us in the South-West. It is new dawn because the move will definitely bring about a new development across the region,” Iba Adams said.