Leading Islamic clerics said in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Sunday that the insecurity being experienced in the country today is a result of neglect of many years traceable to the leadership.
The religious leaders spoke at the 6th Annual Maolid Nabiy held at Morubo Central Mosque, Ibadan, organised by Sheik Hussein Emi-iya Ayatullahi Foundation founded by Babalalola Sofiyullahi.
Sheikh Ayatullahi noted in his speech on the occasion that the current insecurity in the land is evident of the fact that crime and criminality are common features where peace could not be maintained.
He said, “Violence is inevitable in any nation where the leadership makes fundamental errors that have adverse effects on the lives of common men. As we all know, since the creation of the world, both the good and evil are realities of life. Every individual as well as society has the right of choice. Obviously, we are being hunted by the wrong choices made by our leaders over the years.
“In any situation where the government or those in positions of authority neglect their duties, the evil would prevail naturally on the good. With what is being experienced today regarding the killer herders some elements in the society are not ready to tell the truth to power. However, those following the path of truth would be moved to criticize the indifference on the part of government.
“We sense deception here and we are pushed to ask why does the government of the day not receptive to accepting its weakness especially on insecurity in the land? The current tension brought about regarding the Sunday Igboho and the state is as a result of perceived absence of proactive response to security in some states particularly in the South-West.
“The Quran says if you are passing through a situation that is unpleasant try to change the it and if you are unable to do so, then voice out your opinion to the leaders. Otherwise, Quran says we should reject it by heart. But this is not a case that you reject by heart but by our own hands.
“The killer herders are obviously looking for comfort for themselves at all cost without giving any consideration to other people. They now result to violence and the government had made efforts to address the situation but it is obviously not working. In this circumstance can we blame someone who is trying to liberate his people? Rather than dialogue with him, government is seeing him as a criminal. Government should dialogue with the people on the way forward.”
The Royal father of the day, Baale of Morubo Apete Ibadan, Alhaji Busari Rahman, lamented the experience of the natives in their various communities, saying urgent redress was required to correct the logjam.
Rahman said, “The state in which we find ourselves regarding killer herders activities in Yoruba land is disheartening. They treat us as sub-human. They kill our people indiscriminately and it is strange to us as a people. The good ones are with us, we leave together in peace and harmony, but the new development is difficult. Now, we are appealing to the government to rise to the occasion before it goes out of hand.”
