Recent attacks by suspected Ijaw militants
against Lagos-Ogun communities may not be unconnected to the political divides
among Yoruba leaders.
With the leadership of Afenifere clearly
displaying its romance with Niger Delta leaders, specifically, the Ijaws
against mainstream political class in Lagos axis, in the past few years, the
militants wing of the Ijaw people appears to have perceived Lagos,
specifically, Ikorodu, as enemy territory.
Affected communities of the Lagos-Ogun attacks have consistently stated that Ijaw militants were the killers of Yoruba in the last few months on Yoruba soils.
New Eko Dun therefore suggests that the
immediate solution to the crisis is a joint Vigilante (from the affected
communities) and Nigerian security force efforts to stop the Ijaw militants.
Rhetoric and partisan approach of Afenifere and other so-called Yoruba leaders
approach cannot proffer solution. From all indications, Afenifere leaders and
some other Yoruba groups have been defending Ijaw militants.
For example, it was not surprising when a group of 'Yoruba leaders', few weeks ago, including Chief Ayo Adebanjo met with some Ijaw leaders in Lagos without any words from the hosts condemning the activities of the Ijaw militants. Reports monitored after the attacks on Ikorodu quoted a joint communiqué defending Ijaw militants. Signed by Chief Adebanjo and and Chief Albert K. Horsfall, leader of the Ijaw delegation, the communiqué stated: “The recent cases of militant attacks in Ikorodu and other places linked by the police to the militants of Ijaw extradition are quite unfortunate. The meeting rejects the Ogun State police Commissioner’s account and therefore requests the police to furnish the public with convincing details of the people that carried out the attacks including their names. This issue should not, however, be allowed to fuel discord and communal violence between the Yoruba and Ijaw nations.”
While the communiqué added the voice of the leaders to the ongoing call for restructuring of the country, it clearly defended the ijaw militants. This posture of the Yoruba leaders led by Chief Adebanjo was clearly saying that while Nigerians were/are waiting for restructuring of the country, the Ijaw militants who have been killing Yoruba people on their soil can go ahead.
Still
avoiding calling a spade what it is, another Afenifere leader, Yinka Odumaking,
few days ago, during another meeting with Ijaw leaders refused to indict Ijaw
militants over the Lagos-Ogun killings. Under another group, Yoruba Unity
Forum, Odumakin explained that the only way out of situation was for
government to consider the option of state and community policing to deal with
all kinds of crimes, arguing that the ‘federal police’ had failed in this
regard.
He said, “The
consensus we have reached here today is that the perpetrators of the nefarious
acts are criminal elements, who are going about disturbing the peace and
killing people.”
Again, as we wait
for structuring, state police and the other components of true federalism,
should Yoruba people be exposed to rampaging Ijaw militants? These so-called
Yoruba leaders have failed their people.
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