Oba AbdulRasheed Adewale Akanbi, the Oluwo of Iwo, has urged President Bola Tinubu to give protecting Nigerians’ lives and property top priority.
The monarch of Osun also contended that, in his capacity as a royal parent, he was obliged to give counsel that was replete with answers since, at this crucial juncture, Nigeria required everyone to put an end to the persistent abduction, banditry, and terrorism that afflict the country.
In a handwritten letter, Oba Akanbi stated that immediate action was required to address the security danger posed by the ongoing kidnappings by rogue elements or suspected herdsmen. He also mentioned that he had recommended both long-term and short-term remedies to the previous administration.
“The kidnapping in western part of Nigeria is alleged to be masterminded by the Fulani herdsmen believed to know the nooks and crannies of our bushes. This claim has not exonerated even the Yorubas. Evidence of some arrests recorded in the past shown greater percent of kidnapping in the South west are carried out by the bad elements among the Fulanis.
“The Fulani herdsmen are practically Nigerians. They exercise their civic rights during elections. They participate in the process to elect new leaders but are not properly integrated into the society during the sharing of the dividends of democracy. They live a deplorable life with no access to social amenities such as roads, pipe borne water, electricity, hospitals, schools etc. Only animals are so neglected in the bush and hunted only when one is hungry. We can’t continue treating them awfully and expect them to treat us well,” he said.
Oluwo expressed optimism that the Bola Tinubu administration will ensure Fulanis in the forest are catered for.
“A special national program should be launched with effective monitoring to ensure Fulani children are in the classroom. Amenities should equally be extended to their doorsteps. Extending social amenities will make them flow along and bridge the social gap.
“Arresting those children from the bush to the four walls of classrooms requires the promotion of ranching.Understanding is key while education is the door to peace. I want to appeal to your excellency to assent a legislation that will compel education for children and enact strict punishment for parents refusing to educate their children.
“The government must invest heavily in sponsoring few of the fulanis on ranching. The few trained will train others (Training the trainers). I have done it in the past,” he added.
He advocated the commencement of a special national programme to effectively monitor and ensure Fulani children are in the classroom.
“Amenities should equally be extended to their doorsteps. Extending social amenities will make them flow along and bridge the social gap,” he stated.
