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By Nkasi Kolie
Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, Alake of Egba land, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams and Afenifere leader, Pa Ayo Adebanjo top the list of prominent guests expected at the South West Security Stakeholders conference slated for Thursday, August 19.
The conference, which is organised by the South West Security Stakeholders Group (SSSG), will hold in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
Kehinde Aderemi, Special Assistant on Media, to Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, who is also the convener of the group, in a statement, said the meeting, the fourth edition by the group, was a swift response to the various security challenges in the South West.
Professor Gbenga Akingbehin from the Department of Public Law and Criminology, University of Lagos, would discuss the theme: “Stemming the tide of insecurity in Southwest Nigeria: A criminology therapy.”
The SSSG comprises notable socio-cultural groups including the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) Agbekoya, Hunters, and Comsaic among others.
Other notable guests expected at the summit include: Deputy Chairman of Afenifere, Oba Oladipo Olaitan, Publicity Secretary, Yoruba Summit Group, Mogaji Gboyega Adejumo and Chairman steering Committee Yoruba Summit Group (YSG) and other stakeholders.
Meanwhile, in a bid to overcome insecurity being posed by criminal herdsmen, Chairman Iseyin Local Government Area of Oyo State, Muftau Abilawon, has introduced wearing of numbered uniform, known as capes, for all legitimate herdsmen in the council.
Besides, he has also directed that compulsory periodic meetings should be held between herders and farmers in the local government with a view to nipping security threats in the bud before they become aggravated, in line with the directive of Governor Seyi Makinde of the state.
He made the disclosure during a peace meeting, facilitated by All Farmers’ Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Iseyin Chapter, held at Iseyin Town Hall between the herders and farmers.
Abilawon, who was represented by the deputy director of Agriculture in the local government, Alhaja Quadijat Adeniran, explained that the capes, which have been numbered, would be given to the herders in their various locations within the local government. He enjoined the herders that anytime they were going on their business, they should put it on.
According to the council boss, the initiative would help to identify the Fulani Bororo that have been causing trouble against those that have been migrating from another location to cause disaffection in their local government area.
Abilawon stated further that forms would be given to the herders officially towards giving an accurate number of the cattle they have. The exercise, he said, would be carried out soon.
Chairman, Myetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Iseyin, Alhaji Sanni Mohammed, said such peace meeting should be held at least twice in every month in order to further cement the oneness and unity that the two parties enjoyed in the past.
He made a case for both farmers and herders to give peace a chance, support one another and return to their former conduct of living together symbiotically.
A former chairman of AFAN, Apostle Emmanuel Elegbede, emphasised the need for farmers and herders to have a basic understanding of how society should be. He added: “Nothing is bad, except criminal acts. Harmony and conflicts are mere reflection of attitude and people’s mentality that every normal human being has in his anatomy. The attitudes are dove and hyena; but the hyena is dominant in one and dove is in some.
“Friendship is good and hostility is absolutely bad. Therefore, everyone in this context, farmers and herders should respect one another’s rights and set bounds of activities.”
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