In view of growing insecurity in the country, epitomized by kidnapping, herdsmen attacks and various forms of criminality, Yoruba leaders have reverberated calls for restructuring and true federalism, with the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, particularly asserting that restructuring remains the antidote to secession tendencies of some regions or ethnicities.
Nigerian Tribune quoted Alaafin and other Yoruba leaders who converged on the University of Ibadan to unveil the autobiography of Chief Obafemi Awolowo which was translated to Yoruba language), as describing the Nigerian structure as faulty and crisis-ridden owing to the continuous neglect of the restructuring solution.
Leading the charge at the event put together by the publisher of Alaroye newspaper, Mr Alao Adedayo, Oba Adeyemi held that the country continued to grapple with insecurity because it had a centre too powerful and incapable of efficiently superintending expansive national security.
Especially, Oba Adeyemi described as unfortunate those who opine that restructuring was tantamount to secession, maintaining that restructuring would correct the present unilateral system and empower federating units to develop their local skills to benefit the grassroots.
Expressing worry at the invasion of Yoruba land by kidnappers, terrorists, Oba Adeyemi urged state governors to uplift traditional rulers to be considered as critical stakeholders in the security of their domains.
This is as he urged the federal government to mandate officers of the Customs service who know the nooks and crannies of the regions of the country to root out terrorists and kidnappers.
“At the national level today, we have unprecedented state of insecurity culminated by kidnapping, Fulani herdsmen harassment and all sorts of criminality that have enveloped Yoruba land today. What is more worrisome is that most of these Fulani people are alleged to be non-Nigerian but migrants from some West African countries.
“As far as I am concerned, there is no solution to the current national challenge than the restructuring of our federal system to the glorious old days with some modifications where necessary.
“As of now, the centre is too powerful beyond any mortal capacity to supervise and superintend the whole national security.
“Unfortunately, some people at the moment see restructuring as synonymous with secession. But the truth is that rather than seeing it as synonymous with secession, it is in the actual sense an antidote to secession. The present system is too unilateral for comfort.
“Suffice to say that a return to the old system with some modifications will return to the glorious days when each federating units developed its local skills to benefit the grassroots. At my own level, I have been persistent and consistent in my advocacy for true federalism. My doggedness in that resolve has been misunderstood in some quarters,” Oba Adeyemi said.
Oba Adeyemi, however, cautioned Nigerians against criticizing Buhari and governors, but allow traditional rulers to talk to them, on their behalf.
Lauding the decision to translate Awolowo’s autobiography into Yoruba, Oba Adeyemi averred that no Nigerian leader could ever match Awolowo’s record achievements.
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