The Araba-Ogboni of Osi-Ekiti in Ido/Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti, Chief Ifatoyin Adeyeye, has said that returning to our ancestral beliefs remain the only way to tackle the rising cases of banditry and kidnapping.
Adeyeye advised elders in Yorubaland to return to adopting ancestral powers and spiritual heritage to curb the insecurity bedeviling the country.
Describing the spate of insecurity in the country as worsening and disturbing, the priest suggested that returning to the powers of our forefathers are enough to protect the Yorubaland and in extension the entire nation.
He blamed the insecurity bedeviling the nation as self inflicted, saying that the Yorubaland had traded it’s ancestral powers for foreign culture and beliefs that are not working for us.
“We must return to the powers as of old, bring back our ancestral powers that our forefathers were using to protect the land and it’s people before the import of foreign cultures.
“Our ancestors stood for justice, peace, and communal harmony, hence it was not possible for bandits, kidnappers, and all criminal elements to operate in Yorubaland.
“We must invoke those powers at this critical time. We must rise against banditry and kidnapping. Our people deserve to live in peace and move freely without fear.
“Bring together our priests (Babalawos) to chase bandits, kidnappers, and all criminal elements out of Yorubaland. The time to invoke those values is now.
“It is time for all traditional priests in Yorubaland to come together and rise against the menace of banditry and kidnapping.
The Ibadan-based priest, while commending President Bola Tinubu on his several policies to make Nigeria great, identified insecurity as a major challenge confronting his government.
“The issue of insecurity is a small issue if only we can return to the days of old when our forefathers are at the forefront championing insecurity, but unfortunately, we have traded our rights for the foreign culture and that is why these problems are confronting us.
He called for synergy and cooperation between the Agbekoya and OPC in Yorubaland and the national security agencies.
