Dear President,
UPSURGE IN INSECURITY & SOUTH WEST RECENT INVASION: ANOTHER LOOK
Your Excellency, Mr. President, sir. The above caption refers.
The spate of insecurity now gradually extending to South West geopolitical zone of the country as recently witnessed in Èkìtiì State is a call for decisive action. Beyond its superficial narrative, there is the possibility of a conspiracy around the sudden hatful of criminality following the gruesome murder of two prominent Ọbas, the mysterious disappearance of another monarch and the attendant kidnap of pupils all in Èkìtì State.
The reports from some quarters suggested that the three revered monarchs were on their way from a security meeting in Ìrèlè-Èkìtì when the assailants launched their dastardly action. While Ọbas David Ògunṣakin, the Elésùn of Èsùn-Èkìtì in Ìkọ̀lé Local Government area and Ọlátúndé Olúsọlá, the Onímọjo of Ọmọ́jọlà-Èkìtì from Ọyẹ́ Local Government area were murdered, the Alárà of Àra-Èkìtì, Ọba Adébáyọ̀ Fátọ́ba was said to have disappeared mysteriously. Meanwhile, in a space of hours, 6 pupils, 2 teachers, driver, and the pupils conductor of Apostolic Faith Nursery and Primary School at Epòrò-Èkìtì, Emùré Local Government area were all kidnapped. The action of these buzzards looks more of a carefully orchestrated plot – a possible game about the 2027 poll.
While it is possible to dismiss such innuendo with a wave of hand, it is also equally important to read the political undertones to it. Who says it is not a game that is being played already? A game towards making the region troubled, where people would feel unsafe even when they have one of their sons as the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. A hatchet plot to get his people to ‘rebel’ against him with their votes come 2027. After all, there’s an adage in Yorùbá land that says, ‘òòṣà b’óòle gbè’mí, ṣe mí bó o ṣe bá mi’ – we are better off with status quo ante.
It is a simple, yet possible game. It is for this reason that whether or not it is a jiggery-pokery or artifice to hoodwink the populace into revolting against the government of the day, government must put on its thinking cap – now. Like has been repeatedly said by the former spokesperson to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, PDP’s flag-bearer during the 2023 presidential poll, Hon. Bwala Daniel; the recent upsurge in insecurity may be to test the resolve of the new leadership on tackling the menace head on. Need I say Mr. President should act the C-in-C in him now, more than ever?
However, beyond the recent happenstance, I am quick to ask, ‘What measures are the governors of the South Western states making to come together to jointly address this ugly trend?’ It is Ekiti State today. Who says these scallywags are not planning even something much brutal and/or scarier for other states in the region? Where is Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN)? Where are the Àmọ̀tẹ́kùn ‘warriors’? Is it not time, again, to demand for state policing as has been advocated for repeatedly for years?
Your Excellency, permit me to say time has evolved and still evolving. The continuous attempts at solving a tech-driven security challenges of the 21st century with same archaic and anachronistic approach handed over to the country by the unitary government of the 70s is counterproductive. It is akin to doing same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Kò lè work fa! Recently, His Excellency, the Vice President, Sen. Kashim Shettima Mustapha (GCON) suggested a non-kinetic approach to addressing the hydra-headed menace of insecurity. I want to, at this juncture, also join His Excellency, the Vice President, to say it is time we thought outside the box. Our approach to solving the insecurity must be technologically driven.
Today, the hinterlands can be monitored with the use of drones. Our entire security apparatus requires complete overhaul and rejig. Let The Presidency set the tone for dialogue. It is about time a state of emergency was declared on security. A lot is expected from your administration judging by the rot left behind by your predecessor unbeknownst to him the atrocities his appointees committed against this nation. Failure is NOT an option, for posterity beckons!
May you succeed, sir, against all odds
OMOGBOLAHAN L.A BABAWALE
Convener/National Coordinator
The Think-Tinubu Initiative (3TI)
[email protected]/[email protected]