Disturbed by the killings of Yoruba obas, the Arole Oodua and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi has vowed to rally all the six governors in the South West to involve the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Abiodun Ige Adams in securing the region against killings and kidnappings
He gave the assurance in Ile-Ife during the celebration of the 2024 edition of Oodua Festival, organized by the Olokun Festival Foundation(OFF).
Oba Ogunwusi made the call just as Adams assured a drastic reduction of the security challenges rocking the region in six months if he is involved in efforts to curb the worrisome spate of insecurity in the region, just as he called for a holistic approach to solving the security scourge across Nigeria.
The Ooni, who was represented by the Obalufe of Ife Kingdom, Oba Idowu Adediwura, said the killings of two Obas in Ekiti state was a bad omen and a pointer to the fact that the South West is becoming too volatile, as bad elements are making the region unsafe for the people.
“It is time to use what we have to get what we want. We want peace in Yoruba land. We want effective security of lives and property. We want to sleep with our two eyes closed and we have a rising star who can make that possible.
“The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba land, Iba Gani Abiodun Ige Adams is the rising star who has what it takes to tackle the security challenges as he has been transforming the region through his cultural promotion activities for the past two decades.”
Meanwhile, Adams in his remarks, called for a holistic approach to solving the security scourge across Nigeria, assuring the governors of the South West region that if they involve him in their efforts to curb the raging spate of insecurity, he is sure that the security challenges in the region would reduce drastically within six months.
He said: “As the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba land, we will not allow the Plateau massacre to be replicated in any part of Yoruba land.
“But it must be stated that there is an urgent need for a lasting synergy between the government and the people at the grassroots.
“With the present security situation in the country, it is obvious that the government cannot do it alone.
“The battle to curb the spate of insecurity should be a collective effort and the government should involve us in addressing this issue.
“If the governors of the South West involve me in their efforts to curb insecurity in the region, I assure you that the security challenges in the region will reduce drastically within six months”.
The guest lecturer, Dr Morufu Omigbule from the Department of English of the Faculty of Arts, of the Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile Ife spoke on rituals in Yoruba land and the need to preserve the heritage.
He stated also that Yoruba is very lucky to have Iba Gani Adams as the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba land adding that it is the responsibility of all the Yoruba Obas to support him in his efforts to promote the culture and tradition of the Yoruba race.
