Why I hosted victory celebration for Gov. Oyetola —Aragbiji

What really informed your initiative on the insecurity in the land?

You must be referring to the meeting held in the palace last month, specifically on June 28. Am I right because you may have another thing in mind?

You are on point, Kabiyesi. How did you arrive at that in your domain?

As the Aragbiji who is seen as the father of all my subjects, regardless of their religious belief, social status and accomplishment, I am expected to show more concern about their wellbeing, especially security of these people.

Won’t that ascribed role run in contrast to that of government which statutorily oversees everybody, including traditional institution?

I am not doubting or contesting the constitutional role of government. What I am saying is that my position as traditional ruler also imposes some responsibilities on me to ensure my people live without fear. And if I want my subjects to live and sleep with their two eyes closed, I must ensure I do all within my power to ensure that. This reason was what made me to bring stakeholders together in the palace where we did what is called brainstorming.

How can you describe the meeting, in terms of outcome?

It was a meeting which held at the right time. Everybody who was supposed to have attended came. I am talking of traditional chiefs, Baales, the acting DPO of our police divisional headquarters, Civil Defence, heads of local hunters, the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), the harmonised vigilante group and the Agbekoya. They all made meaningful contributions and showed determination to get criminals out of Iragbiji and its environs. Unanimously, we all agreed that we should not fold our arms and expect miracle to chase the criminals out of our environment. We knew that we should be proactive, and that was exactly what we did. For instance, I inaugurated a joint security patrol team to comb all nooks and crannies of Iragbiji and also sensitise rural people about the antics of criminals. In addition, the team will also guide and give the people necessary security tips on how to identify potential elements and to clear all suspected hideouts of criminals.

What did you tell the gathering?

I only coordinated the gathering. I was to sit and listen to all stakeholders. But as a royal father, I spoke on the importance of that gathering and need to see the insecurity as a collective challenge facing all of us and which all of us must confront together. I told them that the time to pass the buck and wail and make empty promises was over; that we should rise up to the challenge. I said that rather than sitting down and complaining, we, traditional rulers may make our state safe without firing a shot.

Can you educate us more on that sensitisation measure for better understanding?

I don’t think there is more to say than for the people to cooperate with the patrol team. The work of the team is all-encompassing as it will reach the hinterland; suburbs and villages under Iragbiji. The patrol team comprises the Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Oodua People’s Congress, (OPC), Vigilante Group, Agbekoya vigilante group and local hunters. It is my belief that all these agencies would unite and combine efforts to dislodge crime from our communities. We should know that security is not something we leave for security agencies alone. It is everybody’s business because it is about everybody.

It is claimed that some villages had been marked as hotbed of criminal activities. How far is this true or otherwise?

It is true some villages such as Odebudo, Egbeda and Idiogungun, in particular are places where alcohol consumption is a way of life. And given the effect of alcohol and drugs in crime commission, the patrol team will give special attention to these places. This is not saying that the people of these areas should panic. There is nothing to panic about. But those who are in that act have reasons to worry because this patrol team must perform its duty.

Has your domain recorded any case of kidnapping?

We have not but that does not mean we should wait until we experience it before we rise to preventive action. Prevention is better than cure. We have used kidnappings recorded in other places to quickly guide our environment against its occurrence here. The stories of the victims are not palatable, meaning that what they went through in the jungle should not be experienced by other people. And I am hopeful that we are going to get results.

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Is the state government aware of your effort so far?

It is even a complimentary effort as you can see that the governor has sought cooperation of traditional rulers to fight this same insecurity. What does that tell you regarding your question? When we visited him to congratulate him on his Supreme Court victory, he also recognised the role which local hunters can play in protecting our forests where the kidnappers hide to perpetrate their evil acts.

What happened during the congratulatory visit to the governor?

Seven of us went to his office in Osogbo on behalf of Osun State Council of Obas. The Ogiyan of Ejigbo, Oba Omowonuola Oyesosin led our team in the name of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi. It was not a meeting to debate but just to share the victory mood with the governor. We offered him prayers and wished him well in his journey. The governor used the opportunity to send us to parents to be more responsible in their duty. He expressed worry at the rate our youths take into criminal activities, especially joining secret cult in primary school. Is it not scary to hear that primary school pupils now embrace secret cult? We have a big task to do because what that development portends is dangerous to our future. We are talking of kidnappings now, those criminals did not start from kidnapping, they must have started from little crimes and graduated into what they are today. We promised to help him with fatherly advice to run a good administration.

I also learnt you hosted what was called victory celebration after the Supreme Court judgment. You must have done this because the governor is your son.

Let me start by giving credit to God who made it possible. The wait for the Supreme Court judgment nearly caused anxiety at a point because in this country, you can’t just say something is impossible. But we thank the judiciary for living up to popular expectations.

Can you be specific on why you organised that gathering?

I think you have answered that question yourself. The governor is my son, and I saw the victory as mine. But it is not the victory of Iragbiji alone, it is indeed the victory of the entire state. Of course, I am specially excited that the governor comes from here. It is a privilege. But he is governor of all towns, communities and villages in the state. The little reception we held was just to show appreciation to God. I am using this opportunity to thank all our guests from traditional rulers to other important personalities who came and identified with us on that occasion. The governor is now set to deliver his pre-election promises to the state.

What has the new status brought to your town?

We are civilised in Iragbiji to expect the governor to narrow governance to his home town. It is not done that way. One of the reasons the sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo is respected 31 after his death is his sense of fair distribution of infrastructural facilities. He was not from Ibadan, yet he developed Ibadan and other places. I am not saying Iragbiji will not benefit from this administration. But as I have said earlier that Governor Adegboyega Oyetola is governor of all of us.