Akinlabi Afolabi, Ibadan
Oyo State Governor, Egnr Seyi Makinde has urged leaders of various socio-Yoruba groups to apply knowledge in their approach for freedom of Yoruba race.
Governor Makinde who made the call at the Pan-Yoruba Congress held yesterday at the Mapo Hall, Ibadan, opined that the major challenge is not 2023 ambition but the progress and development of Yorubaland without bloodshed.
While showing concern on the in-fighting among the Amotekun Corps over the process of recruiting revealed that he has created a forum to see to that in the previous State security meeting, adding that the target is to make Oyo State and other South West States to be free from insecurity.
He therefore called on traditional rulers and non-State executive to come together to support government and be involved in what he called ‘voluntary policing.’
He noted that politicians eyeing different post should forget about 2023 election for now, saying that security of Yoruba land should be their priority so that Yoruba sons and daughters can sleep with their two eyes.
Makinde noted that security is a collective effort of all which should not be left alone to the hands of government, calling on traditional rulers across southwest and none state actors to wake up to the task and fight the struggle and win
He however pledged his support towards the struggle, saying that he will always take decision in the best interest of the people in of the state and Yoruba land as a whole.
“We shouldn’t shed blood of innocent citizens on the struggle, let’s do the struggle with wisdom, we shall bring together non-state actors in the security architecture of the state, so that people can sleep with their two eyes.”
The Aare Onakakanfo of Yoruba land, Iba Gani Adams, in his address disclosed that it will be difficult for Yoruba land to overcome insecurity if its sons and daughters don’t speak with one voice.
He lamented that some Yoruba leaders are sabotaging unity of the land, saying that all hands must be on deck to fight for the struggle to liberate Yoruba land out of insecurity and economic hardship.
Adams noted that he has agreed to work in unity with leaders of all socio-cultural groups in Yoruba land to ensure security of life’s and property.
He lamented the absence of traditional rulers at the meeting, saying that security of Yoruba land starts from traditional rulers and the people.
He, however, called on all southwest governors to lay more emphasis on agriculture, adding that food security is paramount in the society, saying that insecurity will reduce and youth will be gainfully employed if government can give more encourage to agriculture.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Congress Committee chairman, Mr. Sola Lawal noted that the purpose of the congress was to scrutinize, interrogate and proffer the way to good governance and respond to all the challenges facing Yoruba nation. He said that by doing this, Yoruba land will regain its lost unity.
He pointed out that Yoruba nation has of recent witnessed disruption of peace which includes kidnapping for ransome, maiming, raping of women, and destruction of facilities especially on farms across Yoruba nation.