By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan.
Prelate Emeritus of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Prelate Sunday Ola Makinde on Monday urged the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji to sustain peace in Ibadan
Prelate Makinde who made the call in Ibadan during a courtesy visit to the Olubadan on Boxing Day asked the Olubadan to use his powers to fish out the “one million boys” terrorizing some areas in the ancient city.
According to Prelate Makinde, there is the also the need for the Olubadan to fish out those sponsoring “the one million boys” and take a drastic step in checking the recent invasion or relocation of area boys to Ibadan to ensure that Ibadan city remains peaceful.
“If there is no peace, nobody can live anywhere. For about two weeks ago, it pained me when I heard something like “One million boys”. And they started here in front of Kabiyesi. In our culture and tradition here in Ibadan, there is no house without Mogaji. I remember vividly while we were growing, the Mogajis were in charge of settling little misunderstandings. If there is any visitor, the Mogajis are in charge of their movements” he said.
Prelate Emeritus of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Prelate Sunday Ola Makinde on Monday urged the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji to sustain peace in Ibadan
Prelate Makinde who made the call in Ibadan during a courtesy visit to the Olubadan on Boxing Day asked the Olubadan to use his powers to fish out the “one million boys” terrorizing some areas in the ancient city.
According to Prelate Makinde, there is the also the need for the Olubadan to fish out those sponsoring “the one million boys” and take a drastic step in checking the recent invasion or relocation of area boys to Ibadan to ensure that Ibadan city remains peaceful.
“If there is no peace, nobody can live anywhere. For about two weeks ago, it pained me when I heard something like “One million boys”. And they started here in front of Kabiyesi. In our culture and tradition here in Ibadan, there is no house without Mogaji. I remember vividly while we were growing, the Mogajis were in charge of settling little misunderstandings. If there is any visitor, the Mogajis are in charge of their movements” he said.
Prelate Makinde added “at this point, we can’t leave everything to the Police. On this issue, you can relate with the Governor of the state and Commissioner of Police, call all your High chiefs, Senior Chiefs, Mogajis and even Baales. These boys come from a compound in Ibadan, they are sons of known people in this town”.
“We don’t want that in Ibadan, they are in Lagos
destroying lives and property. Though we do understand that unemployment is a great factor in this, but that not withstanding, putting the lives and property of the people in danger. When they mentioned the areas where they wreck havoc, I was worried that these places are close to the palace, we must know their parents! And their parents must be ready to expose them, because if we continue like this, we don’t know where it will lead us”.
Speaking further, the Prelate Emeritus said “I don’t want a situation where such nefarious activities will emanate from your area. You have power, wisdom, influence and the natural power from God as natural ruler. I love the natural influence not artificial”.
“We must stop their terror of reign, appeal to them and ensure peace return in Ibadan. We need to know their leaders, though, we can’t do this by force. Call all their leaders, appease them. Let them come out and say whatever is their grievances. When they say it, you would then know how to resolve it”.
The clergy also charged the Olubadan not to relent on the agitation for the creation of Ibadan state by calling all Ibadan indigenes, home and abroad, to work for the success of the project.
“I thank you for hosting us before the year runs out. I had planned to come for some times now. God gave kings authority, it is well stated in the bible. I have known you and has always observed the wisdom in your expressions. But I want to put two things before you. We have been stretching ourselves over it. Governor Abiola Ajimobi has done of it by creating Local Council Development Authority (LCDAs). Lagos state has done that for a very long time while Governor Rafiu Aregbesola of Osun state, had also emulated that.
“We don’t want that in Ibadan, they are in Lagos
destroying lives and property. Though we do understand that unemployment is a great factor in this, but that not withstanding, putting the lives and property of the people in danger. When they mentioned the areas where they wreck havoc, I was worried that these places are close to the palace, we must know their parents! And their parents must be ready to expose them, because if we continue like this, we don’t know where it will lead us”.
Speaking further, the Prelate Emeritus said “I don’t want a situation where such nefarious activities will emanate from your area. You have power, wisdom, influence and the natural power from God as natural ruler. I love the natural influence not artificial”.
“We must stop their terror of reign, appeal to them and ensure peace return in Ibadan. We need to know their leaders, though, we can’t do this by force. Call all their leaders, appease them. Let them come out and say whatever is their grievances. When they say it, you would then know how to resolve it”.
The clergy also charged the Olubadan not to relent on the agitation for the creation of Ibadan state by calling all Ibadan indigenes, home and abroad, to work for the success of the project.
“I thank you for hosting us before the year runs out. I had planned to come for some times now. God gave kings authority, it is well stated in the bible. I have known you and has always observed the wisdom in your expressions. But I want to put two things before you. We have been stretching ourselves over it. Governor Abiola Ajimobi has done of it by creating Local Council Development Authority (LCDAs). Lagos state has done that for a very long time while Governor Rafiu Aregbesola of Osun state, had also emulated that.
“The next one is the creation of Ibadan state. It is not for you alone, though you have a wide influence and your comment and influence on it will go a long way. Call all Ibadan indigenes, home and abroad, to work for the success of the project”.
He stressed further that “Ibadan is the only regional headquarters that is yet to become a state” saying, for example, we’ve had Enugu and Kaduna states respectively, still we’ve not have Ibadan state. By the grace of God, I am sure we will have it”.
Speaking through his media aide, Alhaji Adeola Oloko, the Olubadan hinted that plans are already on-going to check the security situation in Ibadan and that the Olubadan and the Olubadan-in-Council would hold a town hall meeting with all the High Chiefs, Senior Chiefs, Baales and Mogajis and other stakeholders at the Mapo hall, Ibadan, on Thursday.
Prelate Makinde was accompanied during the courtesy visit by Bishop Francis Wale Oke of the Sword of the Spirit Ministries, Bishop of Agodi Methodist Church, Ibadan, Rt Reverend Amos O. Ajiboye, Very Rev Amos Olalere and Bishop Oladapo Ogunsola. The Very Revds; David Ojo, Adeoye Taiwo, Jeremiah Shittu, Ojo Taiwo and Ani Matthew while Chief (Mrs) Peace Funke Oladeji, Mr Fola Owolabi, Dr Akinlolu Oke, Mr Yinka Abiola, Pastor Femi Obisesan, Pastor Olayinka Olasunkanmi, Pastor Sola Oladoye,and Mr Olotu Temitope.
He stressed further that “Ibadan is the only regional headquarters that is yet to become a state” saying, for example, we’ve had Enugu and Kaduna states respectively, still we’ve not have Ibadan state. By the grace of God, I am sure we will have it”.
Speaking through his media aide, Alhaji Adeola Oloko, the Olubadan hinted that plans are already on-going to check the security situation in Ibadan and that the Olubadan and the Olubadan-in-Council would hold a town hall meeting with all the High Chiefs, Senior Chiefs, Baales and Mogajis and other stakeholders at the Mapo hall, Ibadan, on Thursday.
Prelate Makinde was accompanied during the courtesy visit by Bishop Francis Wale Oke of the Sword of the Spirit Ministries, Bishop of Agodi Methodist Church, Ibadan, Rt Reverend Amos O. Ajiboye, Very Rev Amos Olalere and Bishop Oladapo Ogunsola. The Very Revds; David Ojo, Adeoye Taiwo, Jeremiah Shittu, Ojo Taiwo and Ani Matthew while Chief (Mrs) Peace Funke Oladeji, Mr Fola Owolabi, Dr Akinlolu Oke, Mr Yinka Abiola, Pastor Femi Obisesan, Pastor Olayinka Olasunkanmi, Pastor Sola Oladoye,and Mr Olotu Temitope.
