Unpatriotic Nigerians championing secession – Osun monarch


A traditional ruler in Ayedire local government of Osun state, Oba Hameed Oyelude Makama, has faulted the call for secession, describing the agitators as unpatriotic separatists. 


This is just as the monarch advised the leader of Yoruba Nation’s agitators, Chief Sunday Adeyemo popularly called Sunday Igboho, to surrender himself rather than being chased around by security operatives. 


Speaking with newsmen on Sunday at his palace in Owu-Kuta, Makama who is the Chairman, supreme Council of Owu Obas, maintained that separatist movement is like waging war against the nation. 


The monarch who reiterated his support for restructuring, insist that devolution of power will work for the nation than secession. 


He said, “agitation for secession by separatists or unpatriotic Nigerians, I am out of it. I have never been part of it. Nobody shapes somebody’s head in absentia. Even at the council of Obas meeting, nobody ever discuss secession. So, we consider it as primary responsibility of those who are saddled with that responsibility. I am a pro establishment and I believe in corporate entity of this country. 


“No serious government will like to see his country in turmoil. Separatist struggle is like waging arms against the state. Nobody dare face the federal might and succeed, and Nigeria will not sit down, after the civil war, and face another internal war. The banditry and Boko Haram that we have at hand is more than enough. So, I will advise the agitators to dialogue with the federal government. 


“Rather than calling for secession, I would support restructuring because if you restructure, then you can devolve power. If power is devolved, there will be more money.” 


On the security operatives declaring Igboho wanted, the monarch said, “he should give himself to them voluntarily. He will have sympathy rather than they go to fish him out. 


Suggesting solution to the issue of insecurity, Oba Makama called for resuscitation of local government to its full fledge. 


He said, “local government autonomy has become an aberration, especially in the Southwest. The state government have killed the local government and that is one of the major problems that we have. I will support holistic, clear, defined restructuring, rather than secession. 


“If the local government is well organized, some problems of insecurity will be solved. As we are, the traditional rulers, we don’t have constitutional role and we are principal stakeholder. 


“Since the advent of democracy, no regime remember traditional rulers. Only late general Sanni Abacha allowed the traditional rulers to be benefiting the five percent and some are receiving less than three percent now. We have some traditional rulers that can not afford to change clothes in a month because some are still earning less than N25,000.


“For security situations to improve, a lot of variables need to change. Many traditional rulers are surviving. They are not living. Once the local government is allowed autonomy, things will change.”