The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has emphasized the importance of traditional rulers in Yoruba land harnessing supernatural powers to protect themselves and their territories from attacks. He cautioned that monarchs who are not interested in utilizing these powers should step down from their thrones. His remarks came during the inaugural Yoruba Security Summit, organized in response to the escalating insecurity in the Southwest and the recent killings of royal fathers in Ekiti and Kwara states.
Following the summit, a communique was issued and signed by Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, alongside other prominent monarchs such as the Deji of Akure and the Akarigbo of Remo. The communique highlighted the need for Southwest governors to convene regional security summits to address the growing insecurity in the region. It also emphasized the importance of the Yoruba people taking control of their forests, homelands, and farmlands.
Key recommendations from the communique included strengthening the Amotekun Corps through improved motivation, finances, training, and recruitment of personnel familiar with local terrains. It also called for the provision of modern weapons, adequate budgetary allocations, and training grounds for the corps. Additionally, the communique stressed the importance of traditional rulers leveraging natural resources and powers to combat banditry and kidnapping, while upholding Yoruba cultural values and customs.
