Prominent stakeholders have disclosed an agenda that will ensure internal security and fast-track the socio-economic and infrastructural development of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
This was disclosed at a lecture organised by the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State chapter, to mark 100 days of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Dr Lekan Balogun Alli Okunmade II, on the throne.
Speaking at the lecture, Senator Kola Balogun, said intellectual thuggery, rather than physical thuggery, will henceforth be used to ensure the development of Ibadanland.
He urged Ibadan indigenes, especially youths, to engage in intellectual battles, rather than thuggery, hooliganism, gangsterism and civil disorder.
Balogun, who represents Oyo South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, said the state capital has achieved many firsts in the annals of the African history, including having the first university, the first television station, the first Olympic-sized stadium and the first high rise building, among several others.
Going down the memory lane, Senator Balogun said Ibadan is a land of warriors that defeated the Fulani jihadists in its attempt to conquer Yorubaland, several years ago.
“Several events leading to the attainment of national independence in 1960 depicted Ibadan as being at the forefront at every point and at every generation.
“Ibadan is known as a land of warriors. Today, it is no longer a land of physical thugs. It has become a land of intellectual warriors. Our main pre-occupation now is about the education of our children.
“To depict that every true sons and daughters of Ibadan are warriors who are determined to succeed, we shall be deploying intellectual thuggery to move the great city forward.
“The warrior blood is in the average indigene of Ibadan but it is no longer physical war. We are moving forward, investing in intellectual capacity. We want our children to compete favourably with their contemporaries in any part of the world,” Senator Balogun said.
Keynote speaker at the event, a former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chief Sarafadeen Alli, spoke on the theme, “Ibadan: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow”.
He disclosed that a neighbourhood security network has been put in place in the Ibadan metropolis which would complement the police and the Amotekun in ensuring security of lives and property.
“We have the native security network in Ibadan. Those of us in town will know the effect of some of these things. This is because we all have a focus for the Ibadan of tomorrow.
“We took a cue from the governors of the South-West in setting up Amotekun to say let us have our own neighbourhood security network. We are working with the police and Amotekun to ensure that this works,” he said.
Alli also disclosed that prominent Ibadan indigenes are thinking of reforming the Ibadan traditional institution with a view to insulate it against undue interference by the government.
“Today, our fathers, the high chiefs, are the heads of the traditional councils of the 11 local government areas in Ibadan land.
“We are also thinking of ways of instituting reforms for that and a lot of work is being done by the present Olubadan and his advisory council.
“One of the things we are looking at is having things that will fetch money for the institution and as such, no governor or anybody will be able to say or do anything to the Olubadan,” he added.
Also speaking, President General of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), Prince Oluyemisi Adeaga, said a lot of things are been done to resolve security challenges in the state capital.
He said security is a technical issue and not just about physical assault and noted that apart from the psychological aspect of it, there is deployment of IT for solution to security challenges.
“Even at Ibadan level we have a network of security revolving round all mogajis, baales and chiefs of Ibadanland. The mogajis are involved; they know their people. It is not always difficult to track people in such areas.
“That is why the incidences are reducing as regards internal security issues. When it comes to external attack that is where we have security challenges. You cannot control people entering the country,” he said.
The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, represented by the Osi Balogun, High Chief Lateef Adebimpe Gbadamosi, commended the Correspondents’ Chapel of Oyo NUJ for organising the lecture to celebrate 100 days of Olubadan on the throne, saying such was unprecedented in Ibadan.
Other speakers at the event, including President, Customary Court of Appeal, Ibadan, Justice Mashud Abass; Alhaja (Chief) Mutiat Ladoja, represented by a former state director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mrs. Dolapo Dosunmu; representative of Otunba Kunle Kalejaiye (SAN); and Oyo NUJ chairman, Ademola Babalola, also spoke on the Ibadanland of their dreams.
