Leader of Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, on Wednesday described President Bola Tinubu’s order to service chiefs and the security agents as a wrong approach to tacking insecurity in Plateau state and other parts of the country
He said it will amount to efforts in futility for the president to handle the security challenge facing the country in the same manner like his predecessor (Buhari) who always said he had given “marching orders to the security agents “while insecurity persisted all through the period he was in power
Adebanjo made this disclosure in Jos on Wednesday when he led a condolence visit to the Jos residence of a former Governor of Plateau State and first National Chairman of the PDP, Late Chief Solomon Lar following the Christmas eve attacks that claimed over 150 persons in Bokkos, Mangu and Barkin Ladi LGAs of the state .
Adebanjo who was accompanied by other Afenifere chieftains was received on arrival by the wife of Lar,Professor Mary Lar, Former Minister of Aviation during the second republic ,Samuel Mafuyai, Former House of Representatives member,Beni Lar,the Plateau state Commissioner for Housing and Urban development,Joshua Ubandoma ,Special Adviser to Plateau state Governor ,Olivia Dazyem among other dignatries who were on ground to welcome him
The Afenifere leader who has earlier visited the state Governor and the Gbong Gwom Jos insisted that for President Tinubu to succeed in the fight against insecurity ,those behind the killings must be outrightly arrested and prosecuted without delay
Adebanjo said ” Afenifere works on principle. When I finished visiting the governor(Caleb Mutfwang) ,I said we must come and see her (Lar’s wife). It is what Chief Solomon Lar did that made us to visit . I want you to learn this :it is good to be good .It is not easy to leave a good name .What brought us together is not the oppression of the Fulani in the country .We have been together . When we were young in the South West ,the Fulani used to carry sticks .
” They don’t carry AK 47 like they are doing now and want to destroy the country .
“They want to Fulanise the country .That is what is happening .They don’t want us to be saying it but we will continue to say it.
“And that is the struggle we have been having .And that is why we agitated which led to the creation of more states .When Buhari was in office ,we said he was behind those killing Nigerians .
We told him(Buhari) that those killing us are in his government ,House Representatives and in the Senate . When it (killings) happens,he would say he has given marching orders . We want action and not marching orders .At the end ,nothing happens . No arrest even after our complaints
“Now ,we have another president . And we are faced with the same security challenge .We want action from President Tinubu and not marching orders .Any body who wants to impress Nigerians must go after those behind the killings . They must be arrested and prosecuted if he wants the problem to be solved. “
The Afenifere leader consoles with the people of the state who lost loved ones during the attacks .
He noted that the late Solomon Lar stood for peace and justice when he was alive and appealed to the people to be strong and not give in to the antics of the invaders
Wife of the former Governor,Professor Mary Lar thanked the Afenifere leader for the visit pointing out that the visit would go along way to strengthen them and the people of the state in their challenging time.
She recalled that she and her late husband were always at the residence of Late Obafemi Awolowo and expressed joy that the Afenifere leader had not forgotten the friendship with her late husband despite the years gone by .
“Your coming has strengthened us . We were always at Baba Awolowo place when we were newly married
“Thank God for that unity between our dady(Chief Solomon Lar) who is your friend . We thank you as well for the unity you have continued to build between South south,South West ,the middle Belt and other parts of the country
“If there is no justice ,there can no peace and unity .we appreciate the role of the elders who traveled miles to Jos .God will honour you . The younger ones will learn from the old we ones and the younger ones spread the gospel . My husband live for peace and unity of the country
“It is that good name that we are surviving on today not plenty houses or wealth
“We must stop pursuing wealth and embrace good name for the good of our country “,Professor Mary Lar added
