Daud Olatunji
The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and socio-political organization, Afenifere, has raised urgent concerns over the escalating security situation in Nigeria, particularly in Yorubaland.
The group called on the federal and state governments, along with security agencies, to intensify efforts to halt the persistent kidnappings and the avoidable loss of lives caused by banditry.
In a statement issued by Afenifere’s National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi, the organization’s National Leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, emphasized the critical need for enhanced security measures.
“Efforts need to be geared up to stop men and women of the underworld soonest as they are making virtually everywhere unsafe these days,” Fasoranti stressed.
The statement proposed several measures to address these challenges, including the immediate establishment of state and local government police forces, boosting the morale of security personnel with better pay and equipment, and deploying modern technology to monitor the country’s forests and bushes.
Additionally, Afenifere urged the utilization of data from SIM card registrations and the National Identification Number (NIN) to track and apprehend kidnappers and their collaborators.
In a separate development, Afenifere lauded the governors of South Western Nigeria for adopting the Yoruba national anthem, ‘Ise wa fun ile wa’.
This commendation was made by Chief Fasoranti, who highlighted the anthem’s adoption as a significant step towards regional unity and progress.
“The adoption of the anthem signifies a resolve by South West governments that our region will be marching forward with unity of purpose,” Fasoranti stated.
Chief Fasoranti also extended congratulations to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State on his new role as the Chairman of the South West Governors’ Forum.
“It is a welcome development. I pray that he will succeed as he enjoys the support and cooperation of his fellow governors just as his immediate predecessor, late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, did,” he added.
The decision to adopt the anthem was made during a meeting of the six South Western states’ governors—Ondo, Ekiti, Osun, Ogun, Lagos, and Oyo—held in Lagos on Monday, June 10, 2024.
Chief Fasoranti praised the governors for their historical awareness, noting that the anthem was originally composed by the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) under the leadership of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, GCON.
It was Chief Awolowo who wrote the composition and tasked Chief Hubert Ogunde, the renowned artiste, with creating its melody.
Previously, individual states like Ogun, under late Chief Olabisi Onabanjo, and Osun, during Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s tenure, had adopted the anthem.
The late Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu also adopted it for Ondo State. However, this is the first instance where all South West governments have embraced a common anthem, a move Fasoranti lauded for its symbolic and linguistic significance.
The Yoruba Leader also praised the governors for their renewed commitment to the development of Yorubaland through the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN).
He urged them to ensure that the anthem is learned and recited by students across all Yoruba-speaking areas and beyond.
Afenifere reiterated its call for urgent action to restore safety and security across Yorubaland, emphasizing the importance of unity and collective efforts in achieving these goals.
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