The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba land, Iba Gani Adams, has sought the permission of governors in the South-West to go after the killers of three Yoruba monarchs.
Adams, in an open letter to the Governor of Ekiti State, Abiodun Oyebanji, on Tuesday, said he had the capacity to deal with those he called the enemies of Yoruba land, saying, however, that he needed the permission of the governors.
Suspected kidnappers had 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.
A few days later, the Olukoro of Koro in Kwara State, Oba Olusegun Aremu-Cole, was shot dead at night by assailants, who invaded his palace.
In his message, Adams raised the alarm that the Yoruba race was in danger, saying “the more than 60 million Yorubas living in the South-West, South-South, and North-Central of Nigeria are troubled.”
He recalled how the Olufon of Ifon, Oba Israel Adeusi, in Ondo State was killed by suspected herdsmen in 2020, just after he left the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s office.
Adams said in the history of Yoruba, never had three Obas been killed in the space of four days.
“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.
“Sadly, my zeal to protect Yoruba land, and the will of millions of Yoruba to defend their fatherland, are being tested with the invasion of some parts of our land by these killers.”
Adams said he had received several calls since the killing of the monarchs.
“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 the enemies of Yoruba in this land, I will need their permission and cooperation.
“Aside from 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.
“Your Excellency, sir, for this war to be fought effectively, coordination is central. And as the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba Land, I have my strategy, and I am ready to give you my maximum support as the Chief Security Officer of your state. I can assure you that within six months, insecurity will reduce drastically across the South-West.
“I write to have an urgent meeting with Your Excellency and other governors on this threat to our collective existence. Obviously, the agenda will centre on security in Yoruba land. All the governors will also decide the date, venue and time for the meeting.
“It is high time we stopped this cancer that is spreading its virus across Yoruba land. We must act now before the situation becomes unbearable.”