The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba
Abdulrasheed Akanbi, has written an open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari,
warning him of an impending war.
The monarch wrote Buhari over the
decaying security situation in the country at the moment.
In his letter, Oluwo also
recommended short and long term solutions to tackle the menace, stressing the
need for peace and unity over any kind of knee-jerk decision.
“I am compelled to write at this
fragile moment our togetherness is under threat. I rarely write, not because of
what or how but as a proactive father, I love actions. But for the purpose of
Nigerians, my race and my promising subjects, I chose to communicate this
solution based epistle for two things – to avert journey of no return (war) and
kill negative ambitions with alternative means.
“The recent security threat
emanating from incessant kidnapping by bad elements or alleged Fulani herdsmen
most especially in the south western Nigeria is not without general knowledge.
“Many brainstorming sessions have
been conducted by stakeholders. Just three days ago, I was with Vice President
Yemi Osinbajo at Osun State Government House, Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria
addressing the same burning issue. I’ve suggested both long term and short term
solutions for policymakers’ attention.
“One of those suggestions was
adopted by some State Assemblies recently. I met Nigeria as Nigeria. There were
hurdles but our fathers managed themselves despite diverse ethnic background.
As a pragmatic leader, I’m hopeful you are on toe to run peacefully.
“’Peace cannot be achieved
through violence; it can only be attained through understanding.’ Ralph Waldo
Emerson.
“Education is a tool to peace,
though does not guarantees peace. Understanding is the primary key to peace.
Had Yugoslavia, Liberia, Sierra Leone knew this, maybe they would have avoided
blood bath. I was caught up in the Liberia war and even fought along Charles
Taylor as a Rebel on the NPFL, the havoc wrecked all. War knows no status, age,
influence, identity.
“Mano and Gio tirelessly
committed atrocities against the Kru tribe, the whole nation was tore a day to
Christmas celebration (December 24th, 1989) led by National Patriotic Front of
Nigeria under the watch of Charles Taylor. It consumed over 250,000 souls
including leaders despite plea for dare lives. Majority paid the debt they
didn’t owe. War is an enemy of identity.
“War turns the rich to beggars
and something to nothing. I’ve seen many survivors of war including Professors,
Doctors, Ministers, and even kings lining up with plates begging for food.
Human eating human during war. Nothing except your cloth is yours in a war
zone, provided not naked at the point of attack. Is this what some are
drumming?
“Who will pray to line up begging
for food? Do this people know about war in 21st century? As a responsible
father, I will never go with bloodshed. No father will pray to loose his
children. No father will want to be childless and turn barren at menopause. No
one will prefer turning a beggar in the land of hope. There is an
understandable way of killing a rat without shedding blood.
“We shouldn’t forget in haste event
have overtaken voodoos and traditional war instruments. A fighter jet can
destroy thousands in jiffy. Mr President, I say no to war. War is older than us
all. ‘Òkun ki o ruru, kawa ruru,’ meaning you don’t fuel a burning fire.
“Mr President, I want to urge
you, call every opinion leaders to order to stage a caution of their utterances
at this moment. If you can’t be peace we want, don’t be agent of chaos. In my
own assessment, your excellency, the solutions to the trauma are two – Short
term and long term.
“My domain is the highest host of
the fulanis in Osun State. Before the escalation of the kidnapping menace, I’ve
visited the Fulanis in my domain mandating formal education and threatened to
arrest parents of teen children rearing cattle during school hours.
“They obliged although not
completely. Recently, Seriki Fulani brought one of their children who graduated
from university to my palace. 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.
“Priority can be placed on the
Fulanis with preferential monitoring of nomadic settlements. This option will
secure their future to be engineers, pilots, doctors, Professors , kings,
bankers , ambassadors etc and not kidnappers. Additionally, growth is gradual.
“Our security should go digital.
If not now, who else is our Messiah? Nigeria security should be strengthened.
The boost can optionally be assured through mandatory and timely provision of
electronic national identity card for everyone on Nigeria soil such that the
security force can accost and demand for identification anywhere anytime. With
digital ID card, the security can track suspicious members of the society.
“Your excellency, as a short term
mechanism, kidnapping cases should be given accelerated hearing with death as
penalty for culpable kidnappers. The famous Ralph Waldo Emerson was remembered
quoting that ‘there are five enemies to peace: ambition, avarice, anger, pride
and envy.’
“Enacting such severe law will
dissociate perpetrators from the five enemies of peace. We can’t continue cold
handling and expect cold retort. Kidnappers are killers. If caught, they should
have a taste of their intention.
“Your excellency, I want to
appeal for quick response to enact a law in collaboration with the national
assembly for quick trial and execution of culpable kidnappers. There is no
justifiable excuse for injustice. Injustice is only justified when matching
penalty is meted. The change is in action.
“Let two, three to four culpable
kidnappers taste death, then, we will breath air of peace. ‘Peace is not only
better than war, but infinitely more arduous.’
“Additionally, there should a
special federal government sponsored enlightenment programme for herdsmen to
halt farm attacks. I have done it in the past. I tutored Fulanis in my area on
ranch and provision of hay. You walk your cattle miles to feed them. Acquired
nutrients almost used while covering miles walking them back home.
“Even in the course of covering
miles of journey in the bush, there are many dangers. The federal government
should legislate advanced training on cattle raising as obtainable in developed
nations. Construct ranch in your personal land, and feed them with hay. Hay is
the best food for the cattle. There is little nutrient in silage.
“Formal learning should be made
compulsory for herdsmen while government can as well sponsor them overseas for
training on ranching. In a final note, let me state it unequivocally that
Nigeria is indivisible. The only voodoo to war is peace not traditional
concoctions in digital age. We are on the part of greatness.
“We must not for once be drunk
with deception of war. Mr President, my words are given for your attention.
Nigeria is yours and mine. While I pray for wisdom greater than that of Solomon
to constructively pilot Nigeria, do accept the assurances of traditional rulers
support at effecting solutions mentioned and conduct Nigeria’s affairs.”
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