By Richard Ayinde, Osogbo
A distinguished traditional ruler in Osun State, the Lowa Adimula of Ile-Ife in Osun State, HRH Oba Adekola Abraham Adeyeye, has attributed the spate of insecurity in the country to unemployment and negligence on the part of the leaders.
Oba Adeyeye who is the third on the order of the hierarchy of Ife traditional council, Ooni-in-Council said this while fielding questions from journalists in his palace during his 66th birthday celebration.
The traditional monarch said though the leaders are trying to ensure peace in the country, they have failed to protect the masses who are badly affected with the spate of killings arising from insurgency, banditry, kidnappings, rituals and armed robbery.
He urged the federal government to return the power to the traditional rulers who he said are the owners of their lands saying there was the urgent need for government to return power to traditional monarchs so as to be able to safeguard their terrains.
He however called on traditional rulers to promote peace and harmony among themselves, while the focus of the youths should be redirected materialist to piety.
According to him, Nigerian youths are not pursuing their visions anymore, but comparing their lives with others who have excelled, which he attributed as one of the causes of insecurity.
The lowa Adimula therefore charged Nigerian leaders especially those in the helms of affairs to redesign the country’s security architecture and system towards taming the security challenges.
According to the monarch, “There is serious security challenges currently bedeviling the country. And Nigerian leaders need to listen to the yearning of the people. Elder should call the government to order. They should listen to the people they are governing.
“We voted for them and they should designs the country’s security architecture and system towards taming the security challenges by bringing secure back to the traditional monarchs. Traditional rulers are the owners of their lands.
“There is security breaches here and there. Nobody can travel in the night again unlike in the olden days. There are case of kidnappings, armed robberies, banditry, among others.
“We are producing thousands of graduates every years and there is no where to engage them. The rate of unemployment is alarming.” He said.
The Lowa Adimula who had worked with Oba Okunade Sijuwade for 35 good years as an Emese, described late Sijuade as incomparable traditional ruler during his lifetime.
He said: “I spent 14 out of those years as his (Late Oba Okunade Sijuade) traditional ADC (Saarun). I was always with him. We travelled and toured many countries together.
“Oba Sijuade did many things to enhance the sustainability of Nigeria. We had gone together to see some of the nation’s past leaders. I recall when Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was elected as president. During his first term, the Yoruba states did not vote for him.
“The votes of the northerners brought him to power. During that first tenure, knowing Chief Obasanjo for what he is, a highly detribalised person, he made sure there was no undue advantage to any of the ethnic nationalities. He treated everybody as a Nigerian, and this did not go down well with some people in the north.
“So, when it was time for the second term campaign, Ghali Na’abba was so critical of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, and Baba Ooni Okunade had to step in. He met with his friend, Emir Ado Bayero, and asked him to join him at the Defence House, Abuja. The late Ooni Sijuade then phoned the then Senate President, David Mark that Emir Ado Bayero and himself were coming to meet him in his house.
“The Senate President quickly declined, and instead promised to come down. At the meeting, the late Ooni explained all what had been happening within the political space, especially the crisis between the legislature and the presidency as it affected his son, Chief Obasanjo. Having told him all these, Baba then called the Ghali Na’abba, and also told him he was coming to visit him, the same way he told the Senate President. He too came down with the majority leader of the House of Representatives.
“Baba Okunade poured out his mind on the troubles and challenges given to Chief Obasanjo, over his second term ambition. Na’abba initially, politely refused to support Chief Obasanjo over this in view of the fact that the same man had been ungrateful to the northerners despite the unflinching support he enjoyed from them.
“He won’t come for second term, Sir,” Ghali replied. Ooni, then sat well and pointed to Emir Ado Bayero and said to Na’abba that ‘this is your royal father, tell us what exactly is the matter and let’s reconcile the two of you.’ Na’aba still insisted that Chief Obasanjo would not come back. But Baba Okunade called his bluff and said a thousand of him would not stop Obasanjo. Surprisingly, Na’abba was removed before the second term of Obasanjo.
Asking on what Late Okunade Sijuwade will be remembered for, Lowa Adimula of Ife said he will be remembered for promoting/protecting the cultural heritage of Yorubaland. He succeeded in putting Ile-Ife and Yorubaland on the front burner as a force to reckon with.
Speaking on the late Oba Sijuade successor Oba Adeyeye described the present Ooni, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi as the father of the yorubas who meant well for the entire sons and daughters of Ooduduwa.
Oba Adeyeye is the father of everybody, and when he’s speaking you will know he really have the love of his people in the heart. He has traveled across the universe to propagate the unity of yoruba across the world.
