The
National coordinator of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Otunba Gani Adams,
has warned members of Boko Harm group to steer clear of Yoruba land in the
interest of peace, unity and stability of the country. Speaking in an interview
with Sunday Sun after the Thursday’s arrest of some terror suspects believed to
be members of Boko Haram insurgency in Lagos State, Adam said his group would
defend Yoruba land against any aggression with their last drop of blood.
National coordinator of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Otunba Gani Adams,
has warned members of Boko Harm group to steer clear of Yoruba land in the
interest of peace, unity and stability of the country. Speaking in an interview
with Sunday Sun after the Thursday’s arrest of some terror suspects believed to
be members of Boko Haram insurgency in Lagos State, Adam said his group would
defend Yoruba land against any aggression with their last drop of blood.
His words, “We never thought that Boko Haram would ever think of
coming to Yoruba land. We condemned what happened on Thursday out rightly and
we are sending a warning signal to them that any attempt to bomb or destroy any
part of Yoruba land will be met with severe resistance. Any group of person who
attempts to attack Yoruba land will meet their waterloo. As an organization, we
are prepared to defend Yoruba land with everything we have, including the last
drop of blood in our veins. We will defend Yoruba land both physically and
spiritually.”
coming to Yoruba land. We condemned what happened on Thursday out rightly and
we are sending a warning signal to them that any attempt to bomb or destroy any
part of Yoruba land will be met with severe resistance. Any group of person who
attempts to attack Yoruba land will meet their waterloo. As an organization, we
are prepared to defend Yoruba land with everything we have, including the last
drop of blood in our veins. We will defend Yoruba land both physically and
spiritually.”
He further expressed the willingness of the OPC to cooperate
with security operatives in their efforts to ensure peace and safety of persons
in the Southwest and Nigeria as a whole. “We are ready to co-operate with
any security agent working to restore peace and tranquility in Yoruba land.
Yoruba is not known for religious fanaticism. As a people, we believe that the
constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria allows for freedom of religion.
Whether you are a Christian, Muslim or traditional worshiper, everybody should
be free to practice what he or she believes in. We are sending a warning
signal to the hierarchy of Boko Haram or Ansaru that they should not try what
they are doing in the North in Yoruba land,” he added.
with security operatives in their efforts to ensure peace and safety of persons
in the Southwest and Nigeria as a whole. “We are ready to co-operate with
any security agent working to restore peace and tranquility in Yoruba land.
Yoruba is not known for religious fanaticism. As a people, we believe that the
constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria allows for freedom of religion.
Whether you are a Christian, Muslim or traditional worshiper, everybody should
be free to practice what he or she believes in. We are sending a warning
signal to the hierarchy of Boko Haram or Ansaru that they should not try what
they are doing in the North in Yoruba land,” he added.
Adams said though none of the Southwest governors had approached
him on the best possible strategy to adopt to safeguard the region, he assured
that Yoruba would not be caught unaware in case of any eventuality. “I
can’t count the number of calls I have received from well meaning Yoruba leaders
between the incident of Thursdays and today. In my own opinion, Yoruba are
prepared for any eventuality. Some of our Obas have called me; some other
important personalities have also called me. Yoruba will not be caught unaware.
I don’t know about the people in authority especially the governors and members
of the state Houses of Assembly because I have never heard from them. No
governor in Yoruba land has called me for us to sit down and map out
strategies. All the same, we will contribute our own quota to ensure that
Yoruba land is safe. From all indications, we are prepared for any
eventuality,” he maintained.
him on the best possible strategy to adopt to safeguard the region, he assured
that Yoruba would not be caught unaware in case of any eventuality. “I
can’t count the number of calls I have received from well meaning Yoruba leaders
between the incident of Thursdays and today. In my own opinion, Yoruba are
prepared for any eventuality. Some of our Obas have called me; some other
important personalities have also called me. Yoruba will not be caught unaware.
I don’t know about the people in authority especially the governors and members
of the state Houses of Assembly because I have never heard from them. No
governor in Yoruba land has called me for us to sit down and map out
strategies. All the same, we will contribute our own quota to ensure that
Yoruba land is safe. From all indications, we are prepared for any
eventuality,” he maintained.
Similarly, Senate Minority Whip, Senator Ganiyu Olanrewaju
Solomon, representing Lagos West Senatorial District, also commended the
security operatives for their proactive measure which led to the unraveling of
the terror suspects before they could carry out their planned bombing. He said,
“The security operatives need to be commended for the arrest of these terror
suspects. It would have been terrible if they were able to carry out their
planned bombing, but the security operatives were able to foil their planned
attack.”
Solomon, representing Lagos West Senatorial District, also commended the
security operatives for their proactive measure which led to the unraveling of
the terror suspects before they could carry out their planned bombing. He said,
“The security operatives need to be commended for the arrest of these terror
suspects. It would have been terrible if they were able to carry out their
planned bombing, but the security operatives were able to foil their planned
attack.”
Urging the security agencies to be ahead of the terrorists, he
added, “They (security operatives) need to ensure that they are several steps
ahead of terror in Lagos. That this happened in Lagos calls for concern. There
is a reason for everybody to be worried because Lagosians are not known for
terrorism. Lagos is not known for terror of any kind. Lagos is a community
where communal life is a way of life. People living together know one another.”
added, “They (security operatives) need to ensure that they are several steps
ahead of terror in Lagos. That this happened in Lagos calls for concern. There
is a reason for everybody to be worried because Lagosians are not known for
terrorism. Lagos is not known for terror of any kind. Lagos is a community
where communal life is a way of life. People living together know one another.”
Solomon also advised residents of Lagos to be more vigilant and
report any suspicious movement to the law enforcement agencies. “We need to pay
more attention to our environment and live with a higher sense of
vigilance. We should not take anything for granted. We need to be more
vigilant and support efforts of security agencies”, he enjoined.
report any suspicious movement to the law enforcement agencies. “We need to pay
more attention to our environment and live with a higher sense of
vigilance. We should not take anything for granted. We need to be more
vigilant and support efforts of security agencies”, he enjoined.
But a former Publicity Secretary of the Afenifere, Yinka
Odumakin, cautioned against creating unnecessary panic in the polity, saying
“we only need to be more vigilant and conscious of movement around our
environment.”
Odumakin, cautioned against creating unnecessary panic in the polity, saying
“we only need to be more vigilant and conscious of movement around our
environment.”
Odumakin warned that Yoruba would not succumb to any
intimidation under whatever guise. “It is clear that all is not well in the
country. Yoruba have no issue with anybody. We suspect that fifth columnists
who want to instigate fear in Yoruba land are the one behind this thing. But
Yoruba will not be vulnerable to any attack where ever it is coming from.”
intimidation under whatever guise. “It is clear that all is not well in the
country. Yoruba have no issue with anybody. We suspect that fifth columnists
who want to instigate fear in Yoruba land are the one behind this thing. But
Yoruba will not be vulnerable to any attack where ever it is coming from.”
Source: Sun
