Security: Politicians are failing us because they are not up to the task — Olota
The Paramount ruler Of Ota land, Ado-odo/Ota Local Government Area, HRM Oba (Prof) Adeyemi Obalanlege is an elite traditional ruler, and an academic intellectual. In this interview having MOSES ADENIYI, AYOOLA FLORENCE, FAIZAT ADEBOYE AND KEHINDE AKINYEMI in attendance, he commented on the worsening insecurity challenges in Nigeria, with emphasis on the exit order issued to Fulani herdsmen to vacate some locales in the Southwest; a development that has degenerated into crises in some parts of the region. According to him, it is apparent political authorities are clueless in their approach to resolving the issue. He maintained that the holders of political offices, civil servants and security operatives are not equipped with the ability to handle the issues surrounding the circumstances. To him, Sunday Ogboho has only come to the front burner because some people have failed to do their jobs. Excerpts:
The insecurity challenge of the Country has worsened recently. With the exit order issued against Fulani herdsmen to vacate the Southwest, the region has been brought to the frontline of discourse with threats of ethnic face off. As a traditional ruler of repute, what solutions do you think bear relevance to address this local problems?
Honestly without sounding immodest, traditional rulers are also responsible for the security of their domain and any traditional ruler in times like this, needs to coordinate all the security personnel within his domain. On my side, when I heard about the herdsmen issue I invited the hunters and I had meetings with them. I had meetings with the Divisional Police Officers (DPOs). I also had meetings with the Civil Defence and Naval Force officers within Ota and it can be seen that the situation is peaceful. Along the way, we had a small issue at Oko-Omi where the youth demanded the herdsmen vacate the area. The Divisional Police Officer at Onipan drew my attention to it and I summoned the head of the Fulani herdsmen at Oko-Omi and the youth leaders and we resolved it. These are some of the things I think traditional leaders should be able to do about any hiccup. However, I am not saying they are not up to the task but that is what we have done in my domain and we have recorded zero crisis.
As an academic, an elite, and a monarch, how do you think this issue can better be addressed at the national level?
I have seen governors and most of these people inviting themselves; but what I would say is that they lack the ability to handle this situation because when you have issues like this, nobody thinks about other traditional rulers. They just conclude that because you are a paramount ruler you fit in. They are not the best to handle this issue. They have to look among the best among the traditional rulers who are strategically inclined and who have the know-how to actually handle situations like this. But they have failed to use the resources that we have naturally. For me, I wasn’t invited but all I know is that I can take care of my domain. So, I don’t really care about them because they are clueless. When you look at our politicians, the reason why they are failing us is because they are not up to the task. Politics is different from reality. Politics is because everybody knows you and then you can go in there to do the job. Our civil servants are not well trained again. Gone are the days when they are sent abroad and they will come up with fantastic policies because they are to formulate policies and advice politicians. But the civil servants are not well trained; the politicians have nothing to fall back to, so we will definitely have problems. The best thing now is that our civil servants should be taken care of and trained. I don’t know about the military, but even the Police are not well trained. I have Police details and I can tell you they are not well trained. You see even Inspectors, making stupid mistakes, such that a secondary school graduate should be able to do better. So what is the point going to the Police College? We have serious problems. The people out there do not have the ability to handle these issues: Be it the civil servants, be it the politicians. This is because any sane or capable governor will look for the best among the traditional rulers. Those are the people he should take out to go ahead to resolve issues or contribute to issues; but when you continue to circulate the same set of people and nothing is coming out of it, your brain should be able to tell you to try something else. Actually, I have been handling my domain and we don’t have any problem.
Some weeks ago, Sunday Ogboho brought his Fulani exit campaign to Ogun State, what do you think of this activism?
The point is, if the people who are supposed to handle our security challenges are not doing what they ought to do, then you will see people like Sunday Ogboho who will seize the situation. I don’t think Sunday Ogboho has any business to come in, but because there is a need and lapses in the system, then that is why he came in. He has no business in the security situation. When herdsmen kill somebody, attack a whole village and we don’t have security personnel to actually move in and take control, them people like Sunday Igboho will have their patriots, because he came in to save the situation. He is doing their jobs for them; they should be ashamed.
It’s been over three years since you took over as the Olota of Ota, what are the challenges you have been able to tackle?
There are so many challenges. There is security challenge but we have been able to overcome that. I have to donate a vehicle to the Navy for the patrol of the town. I have also been working with the Police and the Civil Defence forces to actually take care of the security lapses. While they may not have enough equipment, we can only make do with what we have, but I think to a reasonable extent, we have been to handle security challenges we are facing within Ota axis.
It would be recalled that sometimes in 2019 at the occasion of the Iganmode Day Celebration, you had mentioned vehemently that sanctions await the Government should they renege in their promises to the people of Ota. Between the said time and now, how far do you think the Government has gone regarding these promises according to the demands?
If the Government fails to meet up with the expectations of the people, then the people have the right of using their votes. I cannot remove the Government. I am not a military man and it is even wrong to do that because we are practising democracy. But obviously, if there is a government who fails to live up to expectation by fulfilling their promises to the electorates, when next the people go to the poll, they know what to do. I am not the one to tell them what they should do; but if they feel that we are suffering, then obviously they know what to do.
The issue of marginalisation of the Aworis has persisted for a long period, do you think this has been addressed?
It has not been addressed. Every day, we are continually marginalised but we know our rights. As Awori people, we have been clamouring for our independence by having our own traditional council. For me, I am an Awori and not an Egba man, so it will be stupid for any Egba Oba or Egba man to call me an Egba man because I am not. Everybody knows Ota is an Awori kingdom, especially the first Awori kingdom. On that, I think we have taken control of our own independence. So, it is left for the Government to formalise it but for us we are Aworis, not under Egba or Yewa. This is Awori land and you know you cannot erect your signpost with Egbaland. If you do that, people will mock you.
What are your demands from the Government presently?
Our demand is good governance in the sense that they should provide good roads, water and good health services. We all know that every household within this Ota axis, provides security for themselves by erecting gates and employing security men. Again, the availability of electricity supply is not enough. There are some parts that have only one or two hours of power supply daily and because of that they have to provide electricity for themselves. They also provide water for themselves by drilling boreholes. I think maybe with the pandemic, the Government revenue generation has been affected. However, as this pandemic eases off, we expect the Government will start making more revenue to address most of these issues raised.
