By  Dapo Akinrefon

Continues from last week

Fulani men abduct Falae

Another episode that played out in the South West, was the kidnap of former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Chief Olu Falae, which happened in September. What ought to be a day of merry making turned sour for Falae, who was kidnapped by suspected Fulani herdsmen on his 77th birthday.

Falae

Falae, who is also a chieftain and leader of the  Yoruba Socio-cultural group, Afenifere, was  abducted on his farm in Ilado, along Igbatoro road, in Akure, the capital city of Ondo State. The news of Falae’s kidnap drew the ire of groups from the region. A note of warning was sent to the Federal Government to do all within its powers to ensure that “Baba Falae is returned to his family safe and sound.”

Though the former SGF was eventually let off by his abductors, he described his ordeal as unpleasant. Providing shocking details of his ordeal at the hands of his abductors, Falae narrated how he was deprived of food and made to trek several kilometres to freedom.

HID Awolowo’s death

The South West and indeed, the nation was thrown into mourning in September by the passing away of the Awolowo matriarch, Mrs HID Awolowo died at the age of 99 just over 2 months short of her 100th birthday. Popularly known as  HID, she was married to the late sage and premiere of the old Western region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. President Muhammadu Buhari among other eminent Nigerians attended the burial ceremony of late Chief HID Awolowo in Ikenne, Ogun State.

South West succession threat

The backlash of Falae’s abduction was the threat by elders and leaders of the South West to  secede following allegations of incessant, unprovoked attacks and invasion of their farmlands by Fulani herdsmen. This came to the fore in October. The declaration was reached at a summit entitled, “National Insecurity and the Menace of Fulani Herdsmen in Yorubaland”.

The meeting, presided over by former Governor of the Western Region, General Adeyinka Adebayo, warned that the Yoruba will no longer tolerate the present structure of the country, which they claim undermines self actualization of the people of the South West. Reports from the summit said failure to restructure Nigeria using the 2014 confab report might force the Yoruba people to review their place in a political arrangement that cannot guarantee the protection of her citizens. The participants also decried the continued oppression of the Yoruba in their homeland by some Fulani herdsmen.

Akure Eze Ndigbo eyeballs Deji

By October, crisis erupted in the ancient town of Akure when Igbos shut down their businesses to protest the planned dethronement of their Eze- Ndigbo, Sir Gregory Iloehike. Shops belonging to the Igbo were locked in all   major markets in Akure just as; they withdrew their services from the markets. The Igbos insisted that the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi had no power to dethrone one of their own.

The Deji had accused the Eze Ndigbo of insubordination and disrespect. But Iloehike, in his defense, said he was not rude to the Deji, adding that he contributed immensely to the monarch’s installation.

Fasoranti’s resignation

Another interesting episode that played out in the South west was the resignation of leader of the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, Chief Reuben Fasoranti in November. Fasoranti’s resignation jolted members of the organisation to the marrow. The action of the octogenarian, did not go down well with members of the group, who felt such decisions should not have been made public.

Fasoranti, who became the leader of the group after the death of Chief Abraham Adesanya, declared that with the statement, he has since stopped being the chairman of the foremost Yoruba organisation formed in 1951 under the leadership of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo. He, however, noted that as events have been unfolding in the past few years, the focus and goals of the founding fathers of the   great organsation, Afenifere, were gradually eroding.

New Ooni of Ife crowned

Five months after the death of Oba Okunade Sijuwade at the age 85, Oba Babatunde Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi Ojaja 11 ascended the Ooni stool becoming the 51st Ooni of Ile-Ife in December. Remarkably, the ancient city of Ile Ife stood still as the 51st Ooni was presented with the staff of office and instrument of appointment. Interestingly, the coronation came exactly 35 years and one day after the immediate-past Ooni, Oba Sijuade was presented the staff of office.

Prior to his installation, the process of choosing the Ife Monarch proved to be a protraded one for kingdom. Also, crisis enveloped one of the ruling houses following the selection of candidate for the vacant stool. Contestants from all the four ruling houses, namely, Giesi, Osinkola, Ogboru and Lafogido, showed interest to occupy the exalted stool.

Remarkably, 43 candidates had signified their interest in ascending the Ife throne but at the end of the day, then Adeyeye Enitian Ogunwusi emerged victorious. During his coronation ceremony, Oba Ogunwusi promised to build a new Yoruba nation where all traditional rulers will unite and promote unity among the ethnic group.

On his programme for the youth, Ooni Ogunwusi said he had experimented  with a model for youth empowerment in the last three weeks, with the employment of about 3,000 youths, which has in return reduced crime rate in the town.