Socio Cultural Groups Accuse Army Chief Of Inviting National Crisis |The Source

By Ayodele Oni

Leaders of the Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, and the southwest security stakeholders’ Group (SSSG) at the weekend tasked President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently address the rising spate of insecurity in the southwest.

The Yoruba leaders during a meeting in Ibadan, Oyo state, explained that it was geared towards curtailing the growing spate of insecurity in the region, and working out lasting strategies and modalities to secure the region against killer herdsmen.

The meeting expressed its support to the southwest security Network codenamed  Amotekun, adding that the security outfit has done well in securing the region.

Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams, who is also the chairman and convener of the meeting, stated that it was a wake-up call to all prominent stakeholders in the southwest  to address the various security challenges in the region and further strengthen the safety of the people.

He said the issue of insecurity is between life and death, and as such, it must be addressed in the most strategical manner.

A communique issued at the end of the meeting said: “We share the concern of the people in general and prominent Nigerians especially about the security situation in the land.

“We are worried that the  situation if not addressed signals a grievous national crisis.

“The statement of Chief of Defence Staff of the nation calling on Nigerians to defend themselves was clearly official endorsement of self defence.

“We therefore, call on the government to quickly arrest the apparent descent into anarchy.

“We  align with the call of the governors of South West that  President Mohamadu Buhari should prove his innocence in the carnage being perpetrated by herders by not only unambiguously condemning the nefarious acts but also take clear steps to exterminate it.”

Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin, said the meeting had the backing of Yoruba leaders, including Pa Reuben Fasoranti and Pa Ayo Adebanjo and other stakeholders in the Yoruba nation.

According to him, the Yoruba nation would not fold its arms and allow the killer herdsmen to send prominent sons and daughters of the race to their early graves.

He faulted the political structure and arrangements in the country, saying a multinational states such as Nigeria must be built on respect for different human components making up the sovereign nation.

Apart from leaders of the security groups in the zone, prominent leaders in the South-west attended the meeting.