Kidnapping, Killing Of Monarchs: Our Zeal To Defend Yorubaland Being Tested – Gani Adams

…Seeks approval from south west governors to do the needful

The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba land, Iba Gani Adams, has declared that his zeal to protect Yoruba land, and the will of millions of Yoruba to defend their fatherland, are being tested with the invasion of killer kidnappers and bandits in some parts of the South West geo-political zone.

He therefore asked governors of the South-West geo-political zone to grant him permission to go after the killers of three Yoruba monarchs, saying that he had received several calls since the killing of the monarchs.

The Aare Ona Kakanfo assured that if the Governors grant him the needed permission, issues of insecurity in the region would reduce drastically within six months, stressing that it was high time the cancer of kidnappings, killings and other vices spreading their virus across Yoruba land be stopped before the situation becomes unbearable.

Adams, who stated these in an open letter to the Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Abiodun Oyebanji, said he has the capacity to deal with those he called the enemies of Yoruba land.

Suspected kidnappers recently killed two Ekiti monarchs – the Onimojo of Imojo, Oba Olatunde Olusola; and the Elesun of Esun Ekiti, Oba Babatunde Ogunsakin, while the Alara of Ara Ekiti, Oba Adebayo Fatoba, narrowly escaped.

While that was yet to die down, the kidnappers stroke again as they shot dead at night the Olukoro of Koro in Kwara State, Oba Olusegun Aremu-Cole in his palace.

In the letter, the Aare Ona Kakanfo noted that the Yoruba race was in danger, stressing that the more than 60 million Yorubas living in the South-West, South-South, and North-Central geo-political zones of the country are troubled.

Adams recalled how the Olufon of Ifon, Oba Israel Adeusi, in Ondo State was killed by suspected herdsmen in 2020 shortly after he left the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s office, saying that in the history of Yoruba, never had three Obas been killed in the space of four days.

In his words; “When I was installed as the 15th Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba land by the (late) Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, on January 13, 2018, I vowed, before the distinguished audience, that I would do everything to project the image and protect the name of Yoruba land.

“I told them that as the Aare Ona Kakanfo, I have the capacity and the network to deal with enemies of Yoruba land. But, I reminded them that even in the days of yore, the Aare Ona Kakanfo must get permission from the Alaafin of Oyo before embarking on any conquest.

“Now, we are in the 21st century, elected governors are the Chief Security Officers of their respective states. For me to move against enemies of Yoruba in this land, I will need their permission and cooperation.

“Aside the Oodua Peoples Congress, which has solid networks in all the wards, villages, towns and cities in Yoruba land, I also control 13 other groups working with the OPC. We already have the troops and logistics to flush out undesirable elements in the land but, I need the permission of our governors,” he said.

Adams particularly said that for the war to be fought effectively, coordination is central, adding that as the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba land, he has the strategy and ready to give his maximum the Governors support as the Chief Security Officer of their states.

He therefore solicited for an urgent meeting with the South West governors on this threat to the collective existence of Yoruba people, adding that the agenda will centre on security in Yoruba land.