The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams, has broken silence over the latest attack and abduction of teachers and students from their schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Adams, who had been called out over his silence and inaction despite his role as the traditional warlord in Yorubaland, disclosed that he had repeatedly raised concerns about insecurity in the region and had earlier warned that criminal elements had infiltrated some South-West states.
The Yoruba leader made this known while speaking on Channels TV’s Sunrise Daily programme on Tuesday.
While condemning the attack, Adams questioned why governors and other stakeholders in the region failed to respond to his calls for cooperation.
“What happened in Oriire Local Government Area in Oyo State a few days ago is very sad and highly condemnable,
“Precisely, November last year, I mentioned four states that these criminals had infiltrated. I mentioned Ondo State, Ekiti State, Osun State, and Oyo State.
“And there was a time, particularly, I mentioned Ogun State, but as the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, I have limited power to be involved in the security architecture of the country, especially Yorubaland.
“I had written to the South-West governors that there is a need for collaboration on the issue of security; all hands must be on deck on these issues. But for the past two years, they have not replied to me.” He said.
Adams further disclosed his previous effort in enlightening the public over the influx of the terrorists in the South-West.
He revealed organising a World Press Conference through his office to raise alarm and call for collaboration.
“I have poured it out on different media platforms.
“We held a world press conference on this issue about five months ago that there is a need for the Aare Ona Kakanfo, through the Aare-in-Council and 14 different organisations, not only the Oodua People’s Congress, to collaborate with the government.” He said.
Adams expressed his displeasure with those blame him for the worsening insecurity as he cited his limited constitutional powers.
“I don’t know why they refused, and then people continue to put blame on me. Some thought, ‘Where is the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland? He refused to do something on the issue of insecurity,’” he said.
Meanwhile, the Aare Ona-Kakanfo harped on the need to urgently address growing security threats across the South-West region.
“We have had a series of kidnappings in different states, but we have not witnessed mass kidnapping in Yorubaland, and that shows that the Yoruba race in the South-West must prepare for this issue of insecurity.” He said.