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OPINION: Where Are Yoruba’s Soldier Ants?

Published

2 years ago

March 5, 2024

By Suyi Ayodele

There was a man called Ofinaboorun. That is a deep Ekiti name. Meanings are lost in interpretations. So, you may not get the real meaning of the name here. But this interpretation should be enough. Ofinaboorun simply means he who spreads across the road like soldier ants. The legend surrounding the old man indicates that Ofinaboorun was not his real name. It was an appellation, which he got because of what he did to protect his community from bandits from a neighbouring community. Here is what he did. Information filtered in that the warring community was about to attack Ofinaboorun’s town. The elders were tired of the ceaseless attacks from their neighbour. They decided to take action this time around. All elders in the town were summoned to a meeting held in the deep of the night. The discussion was in hushed tones. Ofinaboorun volunteered to help out. He told the elders in attendance to tell their quarters not to venture out on the day of the attack; no alarm should also be raised. That was strange; but the council, nevertheless, agreed. The elders knew that elders speak more in their silence than with their mouths.

The day came. The attacking soldiers came in their huge number. They entered Ofinaboorun’s town without any resistance. The ‘wise’ ones among the bandits knew something was waiting for them. Still water runs deep. A few of them retreated. The foolish ones surged forward; happy that they were not resisted. Then something happened. At a particular spot, there were giant soldier ants across the footpath. The invading soldiers started jumping over the ants. That was exactly what Ofinaboorun needed. As many men that jumped over the giant ants had their spinal cords broken. The pain was excruciating. By the time the bandits realised what was happening, it was too late. Those who were yet to be affected turned back. But they discovered that the ants had also crossed the road behind them. The party scattered. Many entered the bush in different directions. Those who survived went home with tales of woes. It was the last time in history that any attempt was made to attack Ofinaboorun’s town. At the end of the expedition, corpses of the invading bandits were picked in their scores. Another council of elders meeting was summoned. Ofinaboorun was asked why he waited that long before he responded with his supernatural power. He replied to the elders that a child is never scolded for spilling palm oil from the pot, but he is severely beaten the day he mistakenly pours water away. Do we still have such supernatural powers in Yorubaland? I will answer with yet another story.

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A man was once employed as a security guard years ago, in a business premises. He was a hunter; one of the best of his era. Beyond his reputation in the game hunting business, he was equally reputed to be one of the most dexterous Ijala (hunters’ poetry) chanters of his epoch. He was both respected and feared. Now, he had a peculiar way of securing the facilities he was employed to guard. He would come while the business was about to close. When everyone had left the premises, he would secure the place the way he understood, and thereafter would depart to handle his hunting business. Before daybreak, he would have returned to his place of assignment and left when the workers resumed. There was no incident of theft, burglary or armed robbery. Not even the sawdust was stolen. That should satisfy the owner of the business. But that was not to be. The owner was told that his night guard was not sleeping on the premises. He confronted the hunter-guard on this. The hunter’s response was not just haughty, it was a challenge. A gentleman, he simply asked his employer thus: “Why are you bothered about if I sleep here or not? Is anything missing? Or, you want to find out for yourself?”. He thereafter climbed his bicycle and rode off. He did not wait for a response. ‘Rude man’!

Miffed by the audacity of the hunter, the big man decided to find out for himself. So, one night, the big man left his house and headed for the premises. On getting to the guard house, he only saw a lantern with a dim widget. “So, it is true that this man does not sleep here”, he must have told himself. He decided to have evidence. He went for the lantern, picked it, and turned to leave. That was the last he remembered. He wandered in the premises throughout the night. And it was not a friendly night. The rain from mother earth sent for its sibling in heaven. The big man was beaten silly by the torrents. He was in this position till daybreak. The first set of workers who arrived saw him and knew that something was wrong. They looked around for the guard and they couldn’t find him. An elderly man among them knew what had happened. Emissaries were sent to the hunter’s house. They were told that the man had returned from his guard duty and had gone to his farm. To the farm the emissaries headed. After much pleading, the hunter agreed to follow them. On arrival at the business premises, he simply collected his lantern from the big man, who instantly came back to his senses. He was in a pitiable situation. He begged and doubled the salary of the guard. The hunter would have nothing to do with the job anymore. End of story. Needless to say, here that after the hunter quit that job, thieves made the place their second home! Do we still have such powers?

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, is the spiritual head of the Yoruba race. He sits on the throne of Oduduwa, where he oversees the spiritual affairs of the entire Kaaro Oojire. If nobody else should know, the Ooni should know that there is a siege on the entire Yoruba race. He is worried like everyone else. I am particularly worried, too. Nowhere appears safe in the land. The safest haven should be the palaces in the land, with the occupants of the various thrones the most secured and protected. However, recent developments have shown that even obas are as endangered as an average commoner, if not more. As a matter of fact, most commoners are more fortified than their obas. Obas are kidnapped like commoners and many of them have been felled by the bullets from the smoking guns of bandits and killer-herdsmen. Ooni became worried. Like Ofinaboorun, the Yoruba foremost oba decided that something must be done. Oba Ogunwusi (may the king live long), knows that a day will come when he will meet his predecessors. He knows that those before him would ask him what he did when the race committed into his hands was being depleted by felons. He acted last Friday, March 1, 2024. He called for a meeting, tagged “Yoruba Security Summit”.

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Ooni was unmistakable in his speech at the summit. Looking straight into the eyes of the other obas present, the one whose praise name is Jigbinni bi ate akun; (he who is set like the wares of beads) told the traditional rulers to protect their territories with supernatural powers. Olewa ‘lowo (he who is handsome and rich), did not stop there. Matter-of-factly, he asked that: “Any Oba who is disinterested in Yoruba culture and custom should abdicate his throne for anyone who is deeply versed and interested in Yoruba traditions.” The biggest Yoruba obas were in attendance. The Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi, was in attendance. Akarigbo of Remo, Oba Babatunde Adewale Ajayi, and the Ajero of Ijero, Oba Joseph Adewole, were also seated. Ooni’s message was too direct to be ignored. What the Arole Oduduwa did not say is that it is a shame that a Yoruba oba would be slaughtered like a chicken by bandits. I cannot agree less with the Ooni on this matter. The Summit issued a communique after the meeting to wit: “…The Yoruba, especially traditional rulers, should make recourse to their natural resources, including natural powers, to combat banditry and kidnapping… That Yoruba Obas should not jettison traditional values. The security summit calls on Yoruba traditional rulers to return to the pristine Yoruba traditional, spiritual and cultural values. At all times, the traditional rulers should recognize that, in spite of whatever nature of religion they practice, they must recognize that the stool they preside over is traditional.”

For me, the issue of religion is at the crux of the matter. No matter how one feels about it, there is no correlation between our African Traditional Religion (ATR), which is the foundation of every throne, and the new religions (Christianity and Islam). Obas don’t have any business being a pastor or an Imam. No oba is installed in a mosque or a church. There is no place for anointing oil, or Quranic verses in traditional matters. It is a grave abnormality to wear the crown over the cassock. They are two different things. Obas pour libations; pastors and Imams don’t. Obas consult Ifa which is forbidden for church goers. It is either you are an oba in the real sense of it or you are a fire-spitting pastor. The combination of the two strange bedfellows is at the base of the problems. Ogunda ‘Fu (Ogunda Ofun), is one of the principal Odu Ifa (Ifa Corpus). It speaks to what is called: Ogbe m’ohun fo lo’hun (give unto the owner what belongs to him). The Holy Book, speaks of: “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s” (Matthew 22:21). Traditional thrones belong to African tradition. The western world which brought Christianity to Africa recognises this. The British crown their kings, using the ancient throne kept in Edinburgh. They perform rituals; they pour libations. It is an abomination for an oba to remove his cap in any church service. In courts, kings are allowed to wear their caps. It is wrong for any oba, no matter how small his community is, to kneel down before a pastor, priest or imam! The alales are provoked whenever obas gather in a crusade to deride Opele, and call orisas impotent. There is nothing like ‘modernity’ in traditional matters. Ogun will not substitute the blood of a dog for a bottle of anointing oil in the name of Christianity. That would amount to feeding the deity with the forbidden meal, the same way it is wrong to ask a pastor to eat the ram sacrificed to Sango!

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If you ask me, I would say that Ooni’s message should go beyond asking “Any Oba who is disinterested in Yoruba culture and custom should abdicate his throne for anyone who is deeply versed and interested in Yoruba traditions.” No! It should include asking obas who fail to sustain the dignity and sacredness of the thrones and palaces handed over to them to quit! The communities involved should devise the traditional means of getting those ‘modern-day’ obas off the thrones. Each community should find a way of ensuring that nobody ascends the throne without passing through the rigours of traditions. Our case has gotten to that level. Enough of this disgrace! When an Oba is slaughtered like a ram, it is a collective shame on his subjects. The idea of a born-again-oba is an anathema to our culture. This is why it is possible for bullets to penetrate the bodies of our Odidimodes. How do we tell our children the scandalous story of Oloris divorcing our obas? When an Olori packs her bag and baggage and leaves the palace, who marries her thereafter? Who has the audacity to climb such an esoteric woman? How did Orunmila respond when his wife, Oro, engaged in adulterous relationships with Ondararo, Ongoosun and Oluukoolo? Did they live to tell the story? This is our culture; this is our tradition. Enough of bleaching, efulefu obas on the thrones of Oduduwa. We must not only secure our communities, using supernatural powers, our first duty is to preserve the sacredness of our thrones and palaces so that rats can squeak like rats, and birds can warble like birds. When the palace becomes porous, the town is in danger. The “supernatural powers” are there; let us use them!

News

FULL LIST: FG Shuts 41 Unity Schools Over Insecurity

Published

3 hours ago

November 22, 2025

Editor

The Federal Government on Friday ordered the temporary closure of 41 unity schools over the rising cases of abduction across the country.

The decision was announced in a circular issued by the Director of Senior Secondary Education at the Federal Ministry of Education, Binta Abdulkadir.

“Sequel to the recent security challenges in some parts of the country and the need to prevent any security breaches, the Honourable Minister of Education has approved the immediate closure of the listed Federal Unity Colleges.

“Principals of the affected colleges are to ensure strict compliance. Please accept the warm regards of the Honourable Minister,” the circular read.

The affected schools are FGGC Minjibir; FGA Suleja; FTC Ganduje; FGGC Zaria; FTC Kafancha; FGGC Bakori; FTC Dayi; FGC Daura; FGGC Tambuwal; FSC Sokoto; FTC Wurno; FGC Gusau; FGC Anka; FGGC Gwandu; FGC Birnin Yauri; FTC Zuru; FGGC Kazaure; FGC Kiyawa; FTC Hadejia; FGGC Bida; FGC New Bussa; and FTC Kuta-Shiroro.

Others are FGC Ilorin; FGGC Omu-Aran; FTC Gwanara; FGC Ugwolawo; FGGC Kabba; FTC Ogugu; FGGC Bwari; FGC Rubochi; FGGC Abaji; FGGC Potiskum; FGC Buni Yadi; FTC Gashau; FTC Michika; FGC Ganye; FGC Azare; FTC Misau; FGGC Bajoga; FGC Billiri; and FTC Zambuk.

Recall that some students from St. Mary’s School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, were kidnapped by terrorists.

The incident comes just days after a similar attack in Maga, Kebbi State, where 25 students were kidnapped, heightening concerns over the deteriorating security situation in educational institutions across the region.

On Thursday, over 50 schools were shut down in Kwara State following attacks by bandits.

President Bola Tinubu had also cancelled his scheduled trips to South Africa and Angola to coordinate the government’s response to the worsening insecurity.

News

Why FG Hasn’t Prosecuted Terrorism Financiers – Minister

Published

4 hours ago

November 22, 2025

Editor

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, says the Federal Government has not prosecuted individuals suspected of financing terrorism because the process requires extensive and delicate investigations that cannot be rushed.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, Idris explained that contrary to public perception, the matter was not as simple as having a list and immediately taking suspects to court.

The minister’s statement came against the backdrop of growing concerns over alleged government complicity in the escalating insecurity ravaging the country.

Successive governments have faced public pressure to identify and prosecute individuals suspected of financing terrorism, particularly Boko Haram, ISWAP, and bandit groups operating in the North.

Under former President Muhammadu Buhari, officials disclosed that some suspected financiers had been identified, raising expectations that trials would soon follow.

However, no high-profile prosecution has taken place, fuelling criticism from civil society groups and security analysts who argue that the delays strengthen public distrust in government efforts against insecurity.

Addressing the matter, Idris said, “It is not a question of having the list or not having the list; it is not as simplistic as that. Investigations have to be conducted. In some cases, there are merits in what they said.

“You don’t say, ‘because pronouncements have been made, let me take you to court directly.’ There must be sufficient investigation carried out.

“Unfortunately, when you are fighting these kinds of battles, it is not something that you just sort out within a day or two. That is why, all the time, we are calling on our partners within and outside this country to understand the complexity and diversity of the situation we have here.”

The minister maintained that President Bola Tinubu’s administration was “working assiduously” to end terrorism and other security threats.

He noted that significant progress had been made since May 2023, adding that many Nigerians were inclined to overlook the gains.

“Sometimes we forget the successes we have recorded in the fight against bandits, criminals, and some of these jihadists. From May 2023 to date, over 13,500 of these criminals have been neutralised and taken off our society.

“Over 17,000 of them have been apprehended. Even as we speak, some of them are having their day in court, and some have been sentenced. I think we should recognise these efforts.”

On the delayed appointment of ambassadors, the minister said President Tinubu was already finalising the list, adding that the nominees were undergoing security vetting.

The minister also confirmed ongoing diplomatic engagements between Nigeria, the United States, and other countries, explaining that misunderstandings about Nigeria’s security challenges were being clarified.

“We agree that ambassadors should be there (US), and the President has agreed that he is going to release this list. As I speak with you, the President is finalising it. They have passed them to security agencies for checks. I can tell you that ambassadors are going to be appointed pretty soon.

“There is diplomatic engagement happening between Nigeria and the United States and other countries. What we feel is that there is no proper understanding of what the situation is about.

“This is the message we are taking to them. We are open to any kind of cooperation—regional, international, American or anybody who wants to see that there is an end to this crisis in Nigeria.”

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Why Niger Delta Suffers Most — Jonathan

Published

4 hours ago

November 22, 2025

Editor

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has blamed the underdevelopment of the Niger Delta on weak political will and the personal ambition of some political office holders.

Jonathan, who spoke in Abuja on Friday at the launch of The Hidden Treasures, a 202-page book written by former Delta State governorship aspirant Chris Iyovwaye, stated that political rivalry and the scramble for power have repeatedly stalled progress in the region.

This was echoed by ex-presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Adewole Adebayo, and former Minister of Information, Prof Jerry Gana, who also highlighted the failure to act on long-standing regional plans as a challenge to the region’s development.

Jonathan, who chaired the event, was represented by his Chief of Staff, Mike Oghiadomhe.

In his address, the former president recalled several abandoned regional economic initiatives that could have boosted the Niger Delta’s growth.

He also traced past attempts to coordinate South-South governors and federal lawmakers on regional development, noting that personal ambition often overshadowed collective interest.

The former president said, “A lot has been said in the past and even now. But when you don’t bring action to it, it will remain a potential. Deep inside here, we can have tonnes of gold, diamonds, and uranium. But it will remain zero until they are mined and brought out.

This book corroborates what we have heard.

“In the past, when I was a deputy governor between 1999 and 2007, we had this same great commission. We used to have meetings of South-South governors. At one point, it was enlarged to include members of the National Assembly, and initiatives were held from state to state.

“But action could not be taken because of competition for power and control of that commission. At one point, everybody in the Niger Delta wanted to be the vice president to an unknown president.

“That was because Obasanjo was president from the South, and the next president was going to come from the North. But nobody knew who he would be. So, everybody started scrambling to become the vice president to whoever was coming.”

Expressing hope in the new revival of the South-South governors’ commission, he warned that only “practical action” backed by political will can rescue the region’s growth prospects.

“Our advice on this occasion is to send a message to them that there is a need for action. And it has to be in practical terms, not just saying it without showing the right political will. They should move further to create the vehicle that will detail the investment opportunities, save up, and market them across the region.

“The Niger Delta is supposed to be the economic hub of this country, with the potential to build the biggest seaport in Nigeria. From the Niger Delta, you can reach every part of the country, particularly the Middle Belt and the North. There is a need to harness our resources at this point in time for proper and physical development.”

Adebayo, in his remarks, described the Niger Delta as a vast, mismanaged economic paradise.

According to him, the region is too richly endowed for its citizens to remain poor.

“If there is no Niger Delta, there is no Nigeria. To some, every treasure is hidden because the person is blind. It is believed that some of the treasures in the region are hidden because we have had blind leadership over time.

“In truth, every part of the Niger Delta is brimming with human, material, liquid, and solid resources. So, if you are from the Niger Delta, it will be an oxymoron to say you are poor. It is impossible to be poor in that paradise.

“I come from a family that has 100 years of experience in making fortunes out of the Niger Delta. Most of my uncles and aunties were born there and served in great capacities. That is why we are always grateful to the Niger Delta.

“I also personally went to the region and found my own fortune. That’s because I married my wife from the Niger Delta, and my life has turned for the better since then.”

He added that the region’s wealth “is 18 times more than all the productivity of the United States from 1776 to date,” urging a return to responsible and visionary leadership.

“The author and others like him are sent to us like prophets in our time to remind us that a leadership or generation consumed by appropriating surface wealth, farming out the country’s resources to foreign enterprises, and collecting rent to make big men out of themselves is not the shepherd God sent to this land. This generation will have to turn away from that,” he said.

Gana, who as Information Minister in 1999 conceptualized the Niger Delta Development Commission, said the commission had fallen far short of its founding vision.

“During Obasanjo’s administration in 1999, I was mandated to organize a seminar on the Niger Delta at the ECOWAS Secretariat. It was a very well-attended event that was chaired by the former president of Tanzania, Julius Nyerere.

“He came in person, and papers were brilliantly presented on how we need to proceed with developing the Niger Delta. And we proposed the creation of a Niger Delta Development Commission as a platform to provide important infrastructure.”

But he lamented that the commission has not justified its mandate.

“I must confess that despite the tremendous hope that the meeting generated, I have not been personally impressed by the results of the commission, especially when I see them building primary schools and other minor projects.

“This vision was to transform the Niger Delta into one of the most beautiful places in Nigeria, with excellent infrastructure.”

He urged current managers of the commission to “arise and do something great for the people of the Niger Delta region.”

The Niger Delta, Nigeria’s main oil-producing region, has faced decades of environmental degradation, unemployment, poverty, and infrastructural neglect despite contributing the bulk of the nation’s revenue. Oil spills, gas flaring, and weak regulatory enforcement have devastated livelihoods, while recurring conflict over resource control has deepened instability.

The commission was established in 2000 to drive large-scale infrastructural transformation and address developmental gaps, but it has been plagued by allegations of mismanagement, abandoned projects, corruption, and political interference.

Multiple presidential audits have cited poor project delivery, weak accountability structures, and diversion of funds—leaving the region’s core problems largely unresolved.
(PUNCH)