The gravity of invasion of Agodi Secretariat by Adewuyi ADEGBITE
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The invasion of the Oyo State Secretariat, Agodi, by some disgruntled elements under the aegis of Yoruba liberation movement, one led by Mrs Dupe- Onitiri Abiola on Saturday, April 13, is condemnable and unfortunate. The armed hoodlums invaded the Secretariat, overpowered the security men attached to the place and lowered the flag of the Federal Republic of Nigeria at the state house of assembly complex and replaced it with their own Yoruba Democratic Republic flag. When one considers the effrontery of these misguided elements, one would see them as confused people because what they did was treasonable. May be they don’t know the implications is a conjecture. It is a fact that those who did this before were never successful, may be they lack a sense of history is another thing or they just want to call attention to themselves, attention that will lead them to perdition.
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The question is how can a set of rag tag fighters with a few guns, cutlasses and charms take over government in Ibadan and believe they have declared secession from Nigeria. These people have to be pitied by all right thinking persons. One of the reasons for the birth of Yoruba separatist movements is the domination of the nation by a section of the country. Today, power has shifted to Yoruba land and as a result, the agitation has reduced to the barest minimum. The leaders of Yoruba separatist movements like Professor Banji Akintoye and Chief Sunday Igboho who were exiled had returned home and working towards how the present federal government would assuage the feelings of the separatist movements in all corners of the nation through inclusive government. It is disgusting that this happened when a Yoruba man is the president of the Federal Republic. If these people are right thinking, they should have employed peaceful means to present their grievances to the government instead of resulting to armed resurrection. Yoruba leaders including traditional rulers, separatist movements leaders and majority of Yoruba people have condemned the action of the miscreants and shown they are on their own. Until few years ago, when anti social elements like herdsmen, kidnappers and bandits invaded Yoruba land and drew the hands of the clock of peace of the region back, the region is the most peaceful and thriving. Shall we say these few miscreants want to throw the region into turmoil? It is heartwarming that the insurrection has been defeated and the miscreants are cooling their heels in detention waiting for trial, the consequence which would serve as deterrent to those in their shoes.
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Meanwhile, it is high time the government of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu rose to the occasion as one of the most prepared presidents Nigeria has had to implement policies that would rekindle the love of the nation in the consciousness of many Nigerians who have lost hope in their fatherland. Aside the seeming domination by a section of the nation which was real during the immediate past administration, lack of opportunities to achieve their potentials in Nigeria by many youths, cluelessness on the part of government at all levels to turn things around, insecurity of lives and properties, disillusionment about what future holds for them and many more are at the bottom of self determination movements or separatists movements troubling the peace of the nation. If the truth is to be told, Nigerians are passing through excruciating agony due to the economic policies of the present government which in any way is not its creation. The past administrations had sent the nation into Siberia economically through all sorts of policy summersaults, including over borrowing from the lender nations and international financial institutions which have thrown the nation into financial mess. The effects of years of economic catastrophe are now rearing their ugly heads when a go getter assumed the mantle of leadership. There is no doubt that rebranding the economy as Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is doing would be accompanied by hardship but the policies in this wise should be with human face knowing full well that the masses bearing the brunt of years of economic brigandage are not the creators of the mess.
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For the promising youths and few adults seen in the video of the Ibadan invasion including a lady to bite the bullet the way they did, knowing full well the implications of their action, show how far a disgruntled people can go. I advise the government of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu despite the fact that the action of these miscreants is a test of statesmanship for him as national leader, should before starting their trial send them to a psychiatrist home to assess their mental state; no sane person, should have carried out such action.
Adegbite sends this piece via ayekooto05@gmail.com
