The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has issued a critical warning about security threats facing Nigeria while declaring the Southwest region's full support for President Bola Tinubu's efforts to combat the nation's security challenges.
Monarch Confirms Bandit Movement Toward Southwest
During a televised interview on Channels Television, the respected traditional ruler confirmed that hostile groups have been gradually moving toward Southwest territories. The Ooni revealed that regional authorities have become fully aware of these movements and are taking concrete measures to counter the threat.
"Yes, we have discovered that, and that's the truth, and that's the reason why we're coming together," Oba Ogunwusi stated. "We are enforcing and strengthening our local guards; we are very strong. We, traditional institutions, we're very strong when it comes to that."
Call for National Unity Against Politicizing Insecurity
The monarch expressed deep concern about how political rivalry has weakened Nigeria's ability to address security challenges effectively. He emphasized that traditional rulers across the Southwest have unanimously passed a vote of confidence in President Tinubu's leadership in tackling the nation's security crisis.
"God has brought our leader, the current President, President Bola Tinubu, to lead us," the Ooni declared. "Traditional leaders are not talking about politics; we are talking about how to save our people and our race. That is way beyond politics."
He criticized the tendency to attack leaders without offering practical alternatives, stressing that national challenges demand cooperation rather than political point-scoring. The Ooni recalled a time when Nigerians could travel freely across regions without fear of banditry or kidnapping.
Strengthening Regional Defense Networks
The traditional ruler disclosed that the Southwest region has been actively strengthening its security apparatus using historical defense strategies. Local hunters and forest guards have become central to new security arrangements designed to protect communities from intruding elements.
"We have intelligence information. They are coming closer to us, and we're going to send them back," Oba Ogunwusi vowed, highlighting the region's determination to confront the threat headlong.
He emphasized the crucial role of traditional institutions in security matters, noting that rulers remain closest to local communities and understand emerging threat patterns better than anyone. The Ooni insisted that royal institutions must work directly with elected officials to create stronger response systems.
"What we've realised, and it's the truth, is that Nigeria is bigger than all of us," he reflected. "We traditional rulers, the traditional institution, we're the closest to our people. We know the good, the bad, and the ugly. It's very important now we need to actually close the ranks with our political leaders. It is very obvious they cannot do it alone."
The monarch's statements come amid growing concerns about security challenges spreading from northern regions to other parts of the country, with traditional rulers increasingly playing active roles in community protection efforts.
