Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams has decried that South West governors had failed to address the issues frontally but had chosen to be diplomatic and play politics.
Nigerian Tribune quoted Adams who spoke at the University of Ibadan, venue of the unveiling of the autobiography of Chief Obafemi Awolowo which was translated to Yoruba language), as making reference to last Tuesday’s security summit.
This is just as Adams bemoaned that owing to politics of bitterness, he was not allowed to speak at the event, noting that collaboration between traditional rulers and security agencies was critical to improving the security of Yoruba land.
Speaking against the backdrop of threats to Yoruba land, Adams vowed to resist incursion by Fulani herdsmen, while rejecting the proposed establishment of Ruga settlement and demand by Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association to establish Fulani vigilante in the country.
Warning that the gentility of a lion should not be termed as being fearful, Adams said he, as the defender of the Yoruba land, had the capability to command out one million combatants within three days.
He also advocated for restructuring as a solution to the security challenges facing the country.
“For many years, I have been at the forefront of fighting for the Yoruba race, but I also have to be directed to go to war by the people themselves else I lose. I wrote letters to the governors of the South West asking for a security summit but they did not respond. I sent reminders and copied the traditional rulers. The governors I wrote to organize a summit on Tuesday, I was seated and wasn’t invited to speak. There was no resolution from the summit as immediately the governors rose to leave, the event ended abruptly.
“In the Yoruba land, I still have the power to roll out one million people within three days. I have told the traditional rulers that we have work to do. Bitterness is hindering me from using my position as the defender of the Yoruba race as I should. I am installed as Aare to be the defender of the Yoruba race, but if some Yorubas and those in positions of authority don’t want me to be effective, I will keep watching. There is a script such that, first, they requested for land, you objected, now they are resorting to forcefully take the land. Compared to South East governors who were united to condemn any introduction of settlement, our South West governors are being diplomatic.
“When we were in the opposition, the Hausa/Fulani saw us as a lion; now that we are in the mainstream, we have become cow in the reckoning of the Hausa/Fulanis. We will not allow the issue of insecurity to overwhelm us; we will continue to advocate for restructuring. No governor dares approve of Miyetti Allah to take over our lands in Yoruba land. Gani Adams said.
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