Apart from the divsion many Nigerians pretend to uphold, we are a diverse people in culture, tradition, beliefs and even in our security approach. Yorubas don’t employ guards or security men to protect our farmlands, we have a special techniques like “come in without permission and die or run mad”. We don’t ask what our neighbours are cooking, as we are contented with what we’ve but that doesn’t mean we care less about our neighbours. They are our families irrespective of their religion, tribe or financial status.

Sagamu has been a second home town to many Hausa colanut traders. Some have built houses, married and even own and cultivate farmlands there. Itire, Ijeshatedo, Okota, Isolo and many areas of Lagos are dominated by Igbos whose businesses are thriving and expanding on daily basis. We don’t need anyone from Kumasi to tell us how united we are.

Just like business, security is a life issue. When Boko Haram started disturbing the northern cities, we are concerned as if we are indigenes of Talata Mafara or Maiduguri. We wrote the Federal Government severally, asking for the establishment of Civilian JTF to help the Military JTF. Fortunately, the Civilian JTF led by Mr. Kyari, I could remember, identified many Boko Haram militants and eventually took the military JTF there. Today, the area is peaceful and habitable, thanks to Mr Kyari.

From the North East, we don’t know how the Bolo Haram metamorphosed into killer herdsmen somewhere in the North Central, and before we could say ‘Ayilala’, the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, Chief Olu Falae was kidnapped in Akure. Other victims were Abubakar Auta, Bello Jannu, Umaru Ibarahim, Masahudu Muhammed, Idris Lawal, Abdulkadir Umar and Babawo Kato are obviously not from Egba, Ilesha or Aramoko Ekiti. Mrs. Olufunke Olakunrin, the daughter of Pa Fasuranti was not fortunate like Chief Falae, as she was shot dead along Ore expressway on her way back to Lagos and the Nigerian Police is still trying to fish out the killers who are not spirits.

The Governors, Olusola Sanwo-Olu, Dapo Abiodun, Seyi Makinde, Kayode Fayemi, Adegboyega Oyetola and Rotimi Akeredolu of Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ekiti, Osun and Ondo respectively, are not of the same party or religion. In fact, their schools of thought differ, but they are Yorubas. They are aware that we are becoming vulnerable as strangers are taking advantage of our friendly nature to harm us.

Governor Sanwo-Olu is disturbed with the incessant robbery cases in the Seme area of Badagry and the kidnapping in Igbo-Okuta of Ikorodu. Governor Dapo Abiodun wants the forest workers in Remo safe and farmers in Odogbolu more productive. Governor Seyi Makinde is still in shock realizing that the security issues in Shina Peller’s town of Iseyin or Yam City of Igboora is the same story with the people of Kishi and Ogbomoso. From Ilaje, Ese Odo, Owo to Akoko, the security reports reaching Governor Rotimi Akeredolu are not pleasant. Dr. Kayode Fayemi is diplomatic and well respected internationally but the issues of insecurities in Oye, Ikole up to Ijero are enough to get the conflict resolution expert worried. Governor Adegboyega Oyetola is not alone in Osun on the issue of insecurity in Iragbiji, Ilesa, Ede and Ikirun. The Ooni of Ife and the Are Onakankanfo, vowed that the Yoruba people, lands and properties have to be protected by nobody but the Yorubas because it’s our headache,. Why are the Northerners taking Panadol our headache?

The six southwest Governors have identified the problem and unlike fake prophets, they know the solutions. Luckily enough, the Governors and the royal fathers are together on the solution. Indeed, Yorubas are stylish in culture. We are exposed to the forest in Abigi, J4 to Ore, Atlantic Ocean in Lagos, and looking for an animal that can survive, secure and adapt in such areas, LEOPARD got it. Yes, leopard is AMOTEKUN. You don’t toy with the Amotekun.

In Kutigi, Patigi, Lapai, Kafancha, Gurara, Shiroro, Von, Pankchin, Keffi, Biu, bandits and kidnappers can operate freely. It’s the headache of the host communities. Their Governors can tolerate them because a Northerner once said “Boko is our children”, so it’s the Notherners’ headache. Yorubas won’t harbour criminals as children. Our parents will cry out for the whole community to know. That’s our type of headache.

Abubakar Malami, the Attorney General of the Federation,- a native of Kebbi, should be having headache more as bandits keep terrorizing the people of Babban Rafi in Gummi LGA near Danko in Kebbi State. He and the Governors can be that calm but Iku Babayeye, the Ooni of Ife and Aare Ona Kankanfo are Amotekun (Leopards) who won’t keep quite while cows destroy their farms and bully their family members.
Amotekun is the pain relief to our headache. When did the issue of insecurity in South West suddenly become the headache of Northerners? Protect your lands with what you have, let’s protect our panda with what we have. We can decide to use ‘gbetugbetu’, ‘ayelala’, ‘sango’, ‘aluwo’, ‘aluki’ to attack bandits, terrorists, kidnappers and other criminals. Northerners are now sponsoring some of the youths to rant against Amotekun on national television and radio stations. When Benin Republic, Togo and Ghana were ranting about our border closure, we wondered together, “it’s our border na”! When my neighbour gets angry and queries me about for locking my gates and windows, it’s suspicious. Meyetti Allah, Malami and others should worry less about our headache, it’s ours. We are taking care or of our headache with Amotekun, take care of your headache with whatever.

By Oseni Owolabi Ajimomuya