Amotekun Has Come To Stay-Ooni

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar and other monarchs across the country have expressed the readiness of traditional rulers to partner the Federal Government in tackling the security challenges in the country.

The monarchs also stated that good governance is key to ending the challenges of insecurity that include kidnapping, robbery, banditry and insurgency.

The two first class monarchs spoke during a National Summit on Security and Insecurity in Nigeria organized by the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding in Osogbo, Osun State on Wednesday.

Ogunwusi, who described security of lives and property as fundamental to existence, stressed the need for government to return security matters to traditional rulers for effective and efficient policing at the grassroots.

He also advised political leaders who are unable to protect the lives and property of the populace to allow competent hands take over.

The Ooni said: “It about time for us to know the real role of the natural rulers across the entire county of ours. It is about time for the government to give us that opportunity to do it the way our ancestors were doing.

“We are willing now to work with the government. The traditional rulers understand the dynamics of everything, especially the kingdom we are. So, now we should be talking about the solution. Enough of talking but a solution.

“We traditional rulers should now come together. A good example is the Southwest Security Network, code named ‘Amotekun. Let me say here that Amotekun has come to stay”.

In his address, Sultan noted that without justice, there can’t be good governance and without good governance, there can’t be peace in the land.

His words, “You cannot have peace and security when you don’t have good governance and justice. Without justice, you can’t have good governance.

“We need to rise to the occasion things are really bad. If you keep quiet and don’t get up to see how we can help our political leaders on this issue, then we are part and parcel of the problem when you keep quiet in the face of injustice. And Almighty Allah would ask you on that day when you have nobody. how you have used your position to help the common man.

“And if you have no answer God has a way of rewarding you and I don’t pray for that for anyone. So we should speak out the truth all the time without being afraid of a governor or local government chairman or chairman of the traditional council threatening you. If you are convinced speak out and stand by it.

“I have always said that the problem of this country is us, the elite. If we want to deal with these problems, we can do it. We have always used the common man who doesn’t have anything to get what we want and lord it over them. I urge the elite to visit graveyards to see their rich predecessor and understand that no one would depart this world with anything.”

Governor of Osun State, Gboyega Oyetola, called for a holistic approach to end insecurity in the country.

Oyetola said for the country to overcome the menace, security agencies must collaborate with the traditional rulers, sensitize and encourage the people to provide intelligence and expose the criminals in their domain.

In his address, the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the center, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola appreciated the traditional rulers for carving out of their tight schedule to attend to national issue.

Oyinlola said the summit is an intervention by the agency to contribute to finding lasting solution to the insecurity that has continued to threaten the existence of the country.

In his welcome address, the Executive Director of the center, Prof. Siyan Oyeweso highlighted major security challenges that royal fathers have suffered in their territories.

Executive Director, Prof. Siyan Oyeweso
He said royal fathers, who were believed to be special individuals in the past have been kidnapped in their domains with huge ransome paid. He added that some were attacked, leading to loss of lives.

Among traditional rulers at the event are Osemawe of Ondo, Olowo of Owo, Oluwo of Iwo, Ataoja of Osogbo, Olobu of Ilobu, Timi of Ede, Orangun of Oke-Ila, Olokuku of Okuku, Olubadan of Ibadan (represented) and others.

Among distinguished personalities at the event are The Deputy Governor of the state of Osun, Mr Benedict Alabi; Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly, Timothy Owoeye, representative of Governor Kayode Fayemi, Former Secretary to the Osun State Government, Kazeem Adio, Members of Osun State House of Assembly; Security and community affairs experts, Prof Olutayo Adesina, Prof Noah Echa Attah, Dr Ahmed Wali, Prof Odebunmi and others.