As we continue to celebrate the installation of Otunba Gani Adams as the 15th Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba, by His Imperial Majesty Oba Adeyemi, Alaafin of Oyo, I call on the newly installed Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Aare Gani Adams to work for the progress and greatness of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
As a proud Comrade and brother I enjoin him to use his new exalted office, not only for the advancement of the Yoruba nation, but to also rise above primordial sentiments and see the country as a whole as his constituency, and as such for for and defend its progress.
Although it is the believe in many quarters that the office of Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland is an ethnic office, yet by the virtue of the very consequential standing and positioning of the Aare Onakakanfo in the Yoruba configuration, and considering too the fact that Yoruba nation is a major stakeholder in the project Nigeria, the Aare is in this light a national figure and officer who must work to ensure that the nation prospers.
Aare Ona Kakanfo is sue generis in the world as it has no duplication in the Yoruba Land and sub-West Africa, the very reason why while he must work for the progress of the Yoruba people, he must also not loose sight of his roles as a national figure and activates it’s international appeal.
May I also use this auspice moment to comment on the trending crisis of the
Benue/Fulani herdsmen killings, as there is no other time to advocate for the imperative of invocation of self defence and codification of community policing which appears inevitable.
I urge the Federal government to intervene decisively on the recent series of killings that have signatures of a genocide.
What Nigeria has become in relation to the security of lives and properties is highly regrettable. The renewed killings allegedly executed by the Fulani Herdsmen across the country must be condemned and tackled in the strongest possible terms and action.
Nigerians in the cities, towns and villages have had their immutable right to life disrupted at the whim of killers who place premium on cattle over human life.
While the government get the easy job of playing the sympathetic and concerned authority, ordinary Nigerians whose family and friends have died must undertake the tortious task of laying their dismembered loved ones to rest while battling with enduring agony and lasting scars.
We cannot continue to feign concern while watch matters of security of lives become a matter of mere mention.
Government must be seen to be doing the job of defence and the people of Benue must move away from playing the victims and defend themselves in the face of needless death of genocidal proportion.
Thank you,
Dr. Kayode Ajulo
*Principal Partner, Kayode Ajulo & Co. Castle of Law, *Chairman, Board of Trustees of Egalitarian Mission for Africa and *former National Secretary, Labour Party
