CBCIU’s National Security Summit: Traditional Rulers Urged To Provide Alternative Solutions To Insecurity

Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding (CBCIU), Osogbo, as part of its shared mandate, on Wednesday, conveyed a national security summit with a view to holistically interrogating the security challenge in Nigeria and look at how the traditional institutions can provide alternative solutions to the numerous challenges confronting the nation. 

At the well attended summit, Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, called for holistic approach in the quest to end security challenges in the country. He urged Nigerians, particularly the stakeholders and security agencies to partner the traditional rulers in the fight against the scourge.

Addressing the people at the National Summit on Security and Insecurity in Nigeria, held at CBCIU in Osogbo, Governor Oyetola said for the country to overcome the menace, security agencies  must collaborate with the traditional rulers, sensitise and encourage their subjects to provide intelligence and expose the criminals in their domains. 

He lauded the organisers of the Summit for the initiative, advising that the programme should be held regularly both at state and national levels as a way of enhancing security in the country.

”The state of Osun holds traditional rulers in high esteem as the embodiments and custodians of our culture, tradition and our Omoluabi ethos which make us tick,” Governor Oyetola added.

In his remarks, the Executive Director of CBCIU, Prof Siyan Oyeweso noted that insecurity has become the order of the day and nobody is free including traditional rulers.

Explaining the rationale behind the summit, Oyeweso said, “we have gathered here, from all corners of Nigeria not to throw blame on government or agencies of government or to castigate any ethnic group or social entity as the cause of insecurity in Nigeria but to holistically interrogate the security challenge in Nigeria and look at how the traditional institutions can provide alternative solutions to the numerous challenges confronting our nation.

“The Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding (CBCIU), Osogbo, was set up in 2009, and officially commissioned as an affiliate of UNESCO on January 7, by Koichuro Matsuura, the then Director-General of UNESCO. Since then, the Centre, as part of its shared mandate from the global body, has made peace and nation building a cardinal objective which it promotes through cultural exchange, education, dialogue, and communication and information programmes.  

“The existence of traditional institutions in Nigeria predates the coming of Europeans and their powers are derived from norms and values of their societies. The importance of traditional institutions in the promotion of peace and security cannot be underestimated. The traditional institutions are so much cherished and very important in mobilization and are relied upon for the promotion of ethical values in the society. 

“This is largely due to the legitimacy enjoyed by these institutions seen as the custodians of customs and traditions of the people.

It is important to state, that crime and insecurity is not a modern phenomenon nor was it restricted to areas of “civilization” and greater differentiation in the past. Both what the Sociologists and Anthropologists choose to call literate and pre-literate societies experienced this painful and unfortunate malady called crime and insecurity.  

“However, insecurity was less and controlled by traditional institutions in the past. There were many reasons for less crime in pre-colonial Nigerian societies. Life in the society was such that less chance existed for individual deviation. Members were interested in one another as persons. They confided hopes, fears and shared experiences, gossiped together and filled the needs for intimate human companionship. 

“In sum, there was intimacy, sympathy and a comfortable sharing of many interests and activities. But, these were not all; norms were enforced with impunity and individual fears of the forces of nature and of the gods, were not small in coercing individuals into conformity. 

“Presently, insecurity has become the order of the day and nobody is free including traditional rulers. Permit me to take you throw a number of traditional rulers who have at one time or the other fallen victim of insecurity. In Katsina on January 6th, 2018, Mr Babangida Lawal a traditional ruler of Zandam community in Jibia Local government area of Katsina state was kidnapped by armed bandits. He was kidnapped alongside a popular businessman in the community, Mr Murtala Rabea. It was reported that the Kidnappers invaded their homes at night and whisked them away. 

“Also,  on May 1st, 2019, Magajin Garin Daura, Alhaji Musa Umar Uba, was abducted from his Daura residence shortly after maghrib prayers. The abductors made contact with the family after some hours. The Magajin Garin Daura regained freedom after two months in captivity, when he was freed by his abductors in Kano on July 1st In Edo,  unknown gunmen abducted a traditional ruler, the Enogie of Ukhiri, in the Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State, Godwin Osayande Aigbe. Known by the title, Enogie (Duke) of Ukhiri, he was a retired Chief Superintendent of Police, who took over the traditional stool from his late father some years ago. 

“In Enugu, the traditional ruler of Obom Autonomous Community in Agbogugu, Awgu local government area of Enugu state, Sunday Orji, and his wife were kidnapped. The monarch and his wife were kidnapped along the Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway near Ogbaku town in the evening. 

“In Abuja, Mohammed Ibrahim Pada, a third class traditional ruler of Rubochi in Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT was kidnapped from his palace on  by armed kidnappers. He was rescued after two days in captivity on the 30th of November. In Kaduna  ‘Men in military uniform’ abducted the district head of Birnin Gwari Alhaji Yusuf Abubakar Yahaya alongside a Former Educational Secretary of the Local Government, Ibrahim Musa, who was travelling in the same vehicle with the district head. 

” In Lagos, Gunmen abducted a first class traditional ruler , Oba Yushau Goriola Oseni, the Oniba of Ibaland, killed his guard and shot his wife. The gunmen, stormed the monarch’s palace at Iba area of Lagos, Southwest Nigeria on the 16th of July, 2016 and took the monarch away, escaping through the waterways. 

“It would be recalled that there have been reported cases of kidnapped traditional rulers all over Nigeria. In 2011 nine traditional rulers were kidnapped, 2015 witnessed four cases, 2016 had eight cases, while 2018 recorded eleven cases.  As it appears, the government is presently overwhelmed by this level of insecurity in this country. This state of insecurity in the country has shown that there is need for an alternative mechanism to confront this ugly trend.

“This among other reasons is why the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding has conveyed this national summit on security and insecurity. To look at how the traditional institutions can provide alternative strategy that would aid agencies of government in curbing the security challenge of this country,” the Executive Director said.

Meanwhile, prominent traditional rulers declared their readiness to partner with government in combating the scourge of insecurity in the country.

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammed Sa’ad Abubakar and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, the Chairman and Co-Chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria respectively, tasked the government and the citizens to remain committed to the  peace and unity of the country.

Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, expressed the readiness of the traditional rulers to partner the government in strengthening security in the country, just as he reiterated the commitment of the monarchs to ensuring a united Nigeria.

He called for good leadership and committed following as panacea for ensuring a sustainable peace in the country.

Oba Ogunwusi who described security of lives and property as fundamental to existence, advocated the need for government to return security matters to traditional rulers for effective and efficient policing at the grassroots.

Also, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, called on Nigerian leaders to do the needful in maintaining peace and stability in the country.

He canvassed peaceful coexistence among Nigerians just as he expressed readiness to continue to partner government to enhance the security in the country.

The Sultan, who advocated good governance and justice as panacea for national security, urged the citizens to rise to the occasion and speak up with one voice in all honesty and fear of God to ensure permanent peace in Nigeria.

He also called for proper upbringing of the young ones, saying the gesture would go a long way to prevent vices in the society.

He maintained that the time had come for all to follow the path that would continue to promote peace, unity, and tranquillity, particularly in the wake of dire security situation in the country.

Those in attendance at the occasion were Former Osun State Governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly, Hon. Timothy Owoeye; members of the Osun State Executive Council, traditional rulers including Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran; Osomowe of Ondo, Oba Adenrele Kiladejo; Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin; Obasaaju of Oweland, Kabba, Obasaju Kehinde; Director- General, Developmental Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission, Seye Oyeleye; security operatives; members of the civil society organisations; top government officials; and  political leaders.