Voice of Emancipation: Tribute to Arakurin Rotimi Akeredolu

By Kayode Emola

The Yoruba nation and indeed the entire world woke up to the sad news of the passing Arakurin Rotimi Akeredolu on 27 December. Many of us who despise the current association of our Yoruba nation with Nigeria often try to avoid any form of association with Nigeria politicians. This is because they don’t care about the plight of the ordinary people in Nigeria, as they feel contented with their position of high office.

However, many of us remember that when duty called during the Buhari regime and the Fulani were decimating the Yoruba people Arakurin rose to the occasion as the leader of the South West Governor forums. When the chips were down, he was the last man standing among the Yoruba political elite taking on the fight to the Fulani herdsmen.

He dared the Fulani government of Buhari even against his own political ambition when the killing on Yorubaland was getting out of hands. He inspired his other colleagues to set-up Amotekun in their respective states to take on the Fulani onslaught. He was indeed a brave man who fought tirelessly for his people and eventually for his own life until death finally beckon.

Looking back on the death of Arakurin Akeredolu at the tender age of 67, one is bound to see everything that is wrong with Nigeria. At this stage when technology is helping to solve many life challenges, Nigeria seems to be lacking in infrastructure to help the youths build a viable country.

Sickness knows no colour, age, or gender, and when it comes, there’s nothing anyone can do. It might feel like Arakurin’s time has come to say goodbye to this wicked world, however reading about the circumstances surrounding his death, one may wonder what the Nigerian government is really doing for the ordinarily people.

Nigeria has become synonymous with tragedy where its officials care not about the welfare of their citizens until they become the victims of their own misrule. At a time where cancer research has advanced dramatically and medical research is helping to save the lives of millions around the world, Nigeria seems to be lagging drastically.

It is easy to cast aspersions on those that have left us and those leaders that fail to do the needful. I hope Arakurin’s death will help those still serving in government today remember that Power is transient, and they need to do everything possible to build infrastructure for all and not just for the few who are privileged because they never know when they too might need those facilities.

It is very evident that crying over spilled milk will not help return the milk to its original state. Therefore, we need to realise that Nigeria in its current form will continue to pose an existential threat to our survival if we don’t exit it now that there is still opportunity.

If a serving governor can be struggling to find dialysis machine to help his health stabilise, then I wonder what hope there is for the ordinary man on the street. Our elected officials from Yorubaland must recognise that Nigeria is an unworkable state and there is nothing anyone can do to change that analogy. Continuing to plod on hoping that there is hope for the masses is just sheer stupidity.

Those of us who know the current dangers Nigeria pose to our existence need to be very vocal about our intention to quit this union. Afterall, Nigeria will not be first country to be divided in the world or in Africa, therefore, separation wouldn’t mean that each emerging country will not succeed on their own. If anything, it means that each emerging country will learn from the mistakes of Nigeria and strive to make a great nation for their people.

It is therefore pertinent to note that the onus is for us to drive the change we desire as our present political class have shown that they would rather die in power than listen to popular opinion of self-determination. We need to redouble our efforts in our quest for an independent Yoruba nation as that is where we can be able to reach everyone irrespective of their age, sex, or colour. To Arakurin who has finished his own work here on earth, may his gentle soul rest in perfect peace.