By Kayode Emola
There is never a time Nigeria has been this unstable with insecurity running riot as though there is no government in the land. Last week the people of Uromi in Edo State defended themselves against the Fulani marauders terrorising their towns and villages. In the ensuing conflict 16 Fulani terrorists lost their lives and this unsettled the presidency of Nigeria.
At first glance, one would think that suddenly, the government is now awakened to its responsibility. However, the truth is this is all about politics and has nothing to do with governance. If not, why was the government silent when innocent villagers were murdered in Akure some few weeks ago by the Fulani terrorist. Why is the government only concerned when the Fulani marauders are being attacked or killed?
Few weeks ago, the Director of State Services (DSS) Director General Adeola Ajayi encouraged communities to rise in self-defence against the rising spate of insecurity. He explained that the Nigeria’s security infrastructures are not capable of tackling insecurity in the land. Even if the state security apparatus wants to intervene, they are not capable of responding to all the security challenges going on presently.
The Uromi crises currently rocking the country may be the trigger for the eventual break-up of Nigeria. Especially with the way the government is handling the whole situation favouring the Fulani terrorist over the indigenous people of the land.
The work of any government is to protect the lives and property of all its citizens and even foreigners in their territory. If the government that has been silent in multiple killings in various other towns and villages in the past but suddenly pick interest now that the Fulani terrorists are involved. Then the Nigerian government is being biased in fulfilling its obligation of providing security for every of its citizen.
We Yoruba must not stand by and watch these injustices happening and do nothing. We should remember that we are also victims of the negligence of the Nigerian government in fulfilling its role in protecting lives and properties.
Therefore, we ought to stand in solidarity with the people of Uromi in this trying period. We need to show them that there is unity in strength, and they do not stand alone in their quest for justice and equity in the land. No one in Nigeria should be fearful to go to their farms and villagers for fear of being kidnapped or murdered.
We need to be battle ready to defend our ancestral homeland against the forces of darkness who are hellbent on chasing us all out of our inheritance. We cannot afford to fold our arms and do nothing whilst the Fulani terrorists go on a killing spree. We have a moral duty to support any community that is in danger anywhere in Yorubaland and even in Nigeria that wants their liberation from the shackles of Nigeria.
It is now evident that the Federal government of Nigeria is Fulani’s weapon against the indigenous people of Nigeria. As we can see that even though the president is a Yoruba man, he cannot dissociate the presidency from the Fulani hegemony.
Which means we should not wait for Nigeria itself to descend into total chaos before we speak out. We have a duty to intensify our quest for the emancipation of Yorubaland from Nigeria so that we can build a Yoruba sovereign country that can protect lives and property. I urge every one of us to play their part no matter how big or small in the liberation of our people from Nigeria before it descends into total anarchy.
