Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has said it was high time the South-West geopolitical zone united and defended itself against bandits killing its people.
Ogunwusi, who said the South-West had had enough of the killings by suspected herdsmen, said, “I call on all the people of Yoruba race at this time to be united. The time has come to end these killings. These killings must end, enough is enough.”
The royal father spoke at Kota Ekiti in the Ekiti East Local Government Area of Ekiti State during the thanksgiving ceremony organised in honour of a member representing Ekiti South Federal Constituency II in the House of Representatives, Femi Bamisile.
The traditional ruler, who said Yoruba people could no longer fold their hands and allow their people to be slaughtered, urged them to be united at this time and protect their territory.
Bamisile, a former Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, who said the South-West geopolitical zone would definitely defend itself, said stakeholders in the zone were already talking.
He said, “The death of Pa Fasoranti’s daughter, Mrs Funke Olakunrin, is one of the greatest mistakes that ever happened in the South-West. With the step that we are taking, we are moving ahead to stop the killings.”
In his sermon, Rev. Emmanuel Abejide of Methodist Church of Nigeria, declared that the current security situation in the country was unfortunate.
Abejide warned that things might get worse unless the leaders put on their thinking cap.
The cleric, however, urged leaders to use their positions for the benefit of mankind, saying, “We have failed. Many of our political leaders have failed to develop our potential. If God gives you the opportunity to be in a position, please use it for the benefit of mankind.”
The Ooni had earlier condoled with the Afenifere National Leader over the killing of his daughter.
He described the killing of the daughter of the 93-year-old Pa Fasoranti by some suspected herdsmen along Benin/Ore expressway as unfortunate and condemnable.
He called on the Federal Government to “urgently put an end to incessant kidnappings and roberry attacks which have recently led to the untimely deaths of countless number of people before it gets out of hand.”
In a statement signed by his Director of Media and Public Affairs, Comrade Moses Olafare, Ogunwusi expressed dissatisfaction about the security state of the country.
The statement reads: “Securing lives and properties of Nigerians is the primary responsibility of the government. What is happening to us in Yorubaland at the moment if not urgently curtailed by the government may force our people to come with a communal security approach which may not augur well for the unity of this country we have always laboured for.
“This is a disgusting payback to a man like Pa Fasoranti who has lived his life for the stability of this country. It is a height of terrorism which is highly condemnable regardless of the tribes involved, no one deserves to be killed.
“It is sad to realize that Nigeria that used to be safe and conducive for all forms of legitimate activities has been reduced to an insecure entity where innocent citizens now lose their lives and properties to some faceless miscreants on daily basis.
“This sad development is no doubt a wake up call on the President Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Government, particularly to be ruthless in the fight against terrorism in any form in order to restore the peace and sanity of the country so that our people will not be compelled to take the law of justice in their own hands.
“I condole Pa Reuben Fasoranti, his immediate family and the Olakunrin family on this irreparable loss. I pray that the Almighty Olodumare (God) will comfort and uphold the families.”
Punch/Daily Post
