Kenneth Afor
Oba AbdulRasheed Adewale Akanbi, the Oluwo of Iwo Land, has alleged that some bad elders are sponsoring crisis in Yoruba land because of political reasons and self-aggrandisement.
The monarch, who made the claim on his Facebook page on Sunday, said the reason for the ongoing crisis in the South-West is because of the 2023 presidency.
According to him, those responsible for the crisis do not want the next president of the country, whom they assume will be a Yoruba person, to become the president, whereas the person has not declared.
He wrote: “Those who are singing discordant tune are doing so because of personal aggrandisement. We know some Yoruba leaders who are calling for war for political reason. It is all about 2023 presidency. Because they feel someone wants to become President and they don’t want him.
“It is because they know that the next president of this country will be Yoruba and they don’t want that to happen. The person they are accusing has not even come out to say that he wants to be President so why all hatred?”
“Some bad elders are sponsoring crisis in Yoruba land because of political reason and self-aggrandisement. I will not allow war to come to Yoruba land or Nigeria. Stop beating the drum of war or you will not end well.”
The monarch warned the Yoruba leaders who are disrupting peace in the region to desist in the interest of national unity.
“You see, people have to be very careful because we will never support anyone that wants to disrupt the peace of the land. Anyone who wants to destroy the Southwest and particular, Lagos State, will not end well,” he said.
He also warned against ethnic profiling, saying there are criminals are in all ethnic groups.
“This thing is not about Fulani or Yoruba. It is political. Some people are sponsoring crimes to destroy Nigeria. Crime doesn’t have a tribe. Prosecute criminals and tried them in court, not a tribe,” he said.
In solving the constant clash between herders and the farmers, the Oluwo advised Fulani herders to assist government and security agencies to fish out criminals among themselves.
He stressed the need for government to provide intervention programme aimed at educating herders on modern-day ranching to avert clashes with farmers.
“We want the Fulani also to fish out the criminals among them. You Fulani people should also come and live in the town, don’t live in the bush again. Let us know all of you.
“The Fulani community should talk more to the government to teach you modern way of ranching. Open gracing is no longer fashionable in 21st century. We know you are used to it but you have to change to the modern ways.
“There must be an intervention programme from the government to educate Fulani on modern way of ranching. Some of you should engage in pastoral business for herders to buy feeds from you. This is how you will not be having problems with famers,” he said.
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