Herdsmen Attack: Osinbajo Meets Awujale, Akarigbo

Pat Stevens & NAN/

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has met with the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona and the Akarigbo of Remoland, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, as part of the ongoing consultations with the south west traditional rulers over the state of insecurity in the region, especially attacks by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

This was disclosed by the Senior Special Assistant to the vice president on Media, Laolu Akande, in a tweet today.

Yesterday, both President Muhammadu Buhari and Osinbajo held separate meetings with the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, at the State House, Abuja over the same issue.

Akande said that Osinbajo would also be meeting with other traditional rulers to seek solution to the security problems facing the nation.

Akande’s tweet read: “On behalf of the President, VP Osinbajo is meeting a number of traditional rulers on how govt can significantly improve security in our local communities. The VP today is meeting the Akarigbo of Remoland & the Awujale of Ijebuland. This administration will ensure peace & security.”

Osinbajo, who first visited the Akarigbo, was accompanied by Governor Dapo Abiodun.

The vice president fielding questions from newsmen after the meeting said the consultation was on the instruction of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“As you know, there are many significant security concerns all over the country, and there are concerns also in the South West.

“So, I’m here on the instruction of the president to consult with the traditional ruler, the governor and others on what to do to beef up security and to generally improve the security architecture.

“Of course, you know that Kabieyesi is not just a traditional ruler but a very important part of the government.

“So, that is why we are here; to talk to him and agree on few modalities for beefing up security, for ensuring that we are fully conscious of all that is going on, just to be sure that peace and security reign here and across the country.

“I think for all of us, the most important thing to realise is that we are one Nigeria; we are one country; we need to work together to ensure that the country is peaceful, secure and happy for all of us, ” he said.

He said that Nigeria had the potential to give the citizens all they desired.

Osinbajo, however, said that some people were working against the interest of the country by attempting to cause instability.

He expressed optimism that Nigeria would overcome all its problems and set itself on the part of peace and prosperity.

The vice president, in company with the Ogun governor, also proceeded to Ijebu Ode where he had a private meeting with Adetona.

Speaking with newsmen afterwards, Osinbajo said that the Awujale was one of the most important voices in the South West.

He said his discussion with Adetona was on the important steps to take in order to improve the security architecture generally.

According to him, the monarch has given a lot of insight on what needs to be done and how to go about it and what has been done already.

“But very important is his commitment to ensuring that there is peace and security and that everybody lives in peace with one another and that we maintain the highest level of security.

“We are consulting with many of the traditional rulers across the country but there are concerns in the South West now.

“We are going around; I will be in Osun on Tuesday; we are going to go round to see the Alake, the Ooni and other traditional rulers and primarily, they themselves want to participate in improving the security architecture.

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