YORUBA KO'YA (YKLTF) DETESTS DESECRATION OF YORUBALAND BY SHEIK GUMI & HIS ENTOURAGE TO IGBOHO TOWN & OTHER AREAS IN YORUBA LAND
The attention of Yoruba Ko'Ya Leadership & Training Foundation(YKLTF), has been drawn to the news of Sheik Gumi alleged visit to Igboho town -the home town of Sunday Adeyemo a.k.a Sunday Igboho-, where a video as foto ops of Gumi & Prof Usman Yusuf and entourage were seen in front of a Community school.
This news was silent on the purpose of their visit to the ancient town (the very heart of Yoruba Agitation struggle), rekindled by Chief Sunday Adeyemo sometimes in first quarter of 2021.
In as much as no one is still aware of the socio-economic or political reasons for their visit to this sensitive area of Yorubaland, we consider this visit as referenced, as irresponsible and show of unnecessary arrogance to desecrate the culture of Yoruba people.
The act is definitely provoking to the "sulking victims" of Fulani herders, who indeed caused the existing tension in this surrounding communities of Igboho, Igangan etc, where the gruesome massacre of Sunday Adeyemo's cousin, Dr Aborode and others, are yet to be resolved, (despite arrest and hand over of suspects to the Federal Police).
The tension may have now suddenly aroused due to this irresponsible visit.
Gumi and his entourage are noted to visit bandits after they have committed criminalities as invasions, kidnapping, destruction of properties and many times killings, for negotiation as ransom and rehabilitation of same bandits, thereby circumventing the long arm of the law.
Since the "bandits" have been chased away, (courtesy of community self help led by Sunday Igboho himself), the community and its environs have been in peace.
The acts of Gumi and his entourage deployed on this visit can only be viewed from suspected conspiracy against the guided peace attained in these communities and as such, Gumi must thoroughly be investigated to account for real reason behind this visit, by crack team of Investigators in Oyo or the Intelligence Unit of Amotekun-Oyo State.
We also urge the Special Adviser to Oyo State Governor (Security Matters) Mr Fatai Owoseni, to publicly address this issue after his preliminary findings at Igboho town, in an attempt to sending a strong signal as warning to the likes of Gumi, to thread carefully on Yorubaland, as respect begets respect....
Gumi cannot cry more than the bereaved. Let him limit his mercenary work to NE, NC & NW.
In anycase such calibre delegation from Yoruba cannot publicly enter Zamfara State for example, without a courtesy call on the local traditional ruler, who will then offer palace officials as guide to any places of interest in the community.
We detest the act of Gumi visiting sensitive places in Yorubaland without guide from local traditional stool, for proper account of purpose and as necessary inventory to gauge situation sensitive to invasions, kidnapping, killings.
We make bold to reiterate that no Traditional Ruler should be held responsible for whatever happens to Gumi and his entourage, if such irresponsible trip is undertaken by him in future, in any of Yorubaland in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Oshun, Ekiti, Kogi, Kwara, Edo and Delta, without official guide from respective traditional ruler palaces, if they permit.
We remain committed to peaceful coexistence of Yorubas and their visitors/guest/residents alike, as the most accommodating people in all the six geographical zones of Nigeria, but our hospitality cannot be taken for granted in the face of such braving or future disregard and disrespect to our constituted and traditional institutions/geographical indigenous space.
In a similar vein, Yoruba Ko'Ya reiterates its earlier support for the ban on open grazing as declared by southern governors forum and respectively enacted into law by various States Government especially in South West.
Yoruba Ko'Ya has viewed most utterances coming out from an Association of Commercial Cattle Traders called Miyetti Allah, as provocative and sometimes irresponsible, that can stir violence in a peaceful environment.
This Association which may have assumed the position as spokesperson of an imaginary new 'Federal Ministry of Cattle Rearing & Open Grazing', has caused more deaths and damage to relative peace to communities where genuine fulani herders have coexisted for years, by their irresponsible utterances.
Such utterances caused the January 1st 2018 massacre of farmers in Benue and other spots around Middle belt zone.
In Yorubaland we listen to wise counsel early enough in line with our elders words on marble...."a stitch in time saves nine".
Therefore we now urge and implore the security officials stationed in SW, SS, SE to call up for a joint security invitation to the leadership of this association, in an attempt to interrogate on their genuine intent and caution, to respect the traditions of our land.
Yoruba Koya and its millions of members across Southwest believe in due business process and commercial entrepreneurship, especially as it affects Yorubas involved in cattle, goat husbandry in ranches.
Our noble Foundation is at this time, working with our respective State governments, supporting in the process of establishing Cattle Marketing Board-CAMAB, for well meaning local Cattle Breeders scattered across Nigeria -SW, and operating within stipulated laws and best practices in respective zones, to collaborate on regular supply basis of cattle in trucks, delivered to CAMAB Ranch Farms, for subsequent distribution networks to various abattoirs and processing plants in towns and cities, thereby creating the much needed employment value, required VAT and other business taxes for collective good.
A word they say is always enough for the wise....so says our elders.
Demola SANYAOLU
Director, Media & Publicity, YKLTF
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