A RACE ON SIEGE

The conduct of the police in the conflict between the Hausa/Fulani and the Yoruba in Ile- Ife is reprehensible, contends

It is quite unfortunate that the recent inter-tribal feud between the Yoruba and the Hausa-Fulani in Ile-Ife had assumed a dimension that is not only novel but unprecedented in the more than two centuries of co-habitation between the Yoruba and Hausa in Yoruba land.

Over this period and like the proverbial tongue and mouth, there had been moments of disagreements between the two communities for one reason or the other. Whether in Sagamu, Ijebu Ode, Ibadan or Oyo, crisis might have arisen either out of business mistrust between them, marital intrusion or for any other miscellaneous reason.

But because of the social acculturation that evolved between the two communities, they have always resolved such crises within their various cultural norms and other rift-solving tradition.

In many Yoruba towns and cities, Oyo town is a reference point. The SarkiHausa is a recognised chieftaincy title which usually receives the blessings of the Alaafin. That is why the SarkiHausa remains a member of the Security Council in Oyo metropolis.

It is at this forum that the each quarter head including the SarkiHausa avails the council of the goings on within their intra-communities. It was reported recently that on one of such occasions, the death of a Hausa man arising from a careless driver was exhaustively discussed and debated.

What makes the Ife experience both novel and unprecedented is the bias exhibited by the security agencies, especially the police in the course of its intervention in the crisis.

For reasons best known to the Inspector General of Police, he gave a picture of national dimension to the crisis by deploying a special squad from Abuja instead of the Osun State Police Command to handle the matter. Consequently, instead of conducting professional investigation, the Abuja squad chose to intimidate the Yoruba cradle thus putting the ancestral town on siege. As if that was not enough, the Abuja squad relied on tip-off only from the Hausa community to pick their suspects. To further show lack of professional etiquette, the squad did not consider a courtesy call on the Ooni, a worthwhile exercise. Such a visit could have availed them of the efforts the Kabiyesi made to quell the fracas.

It was therefore no wonder that the police directed their attention to only one side, nay the Yoruba side. Whereas, more than 30 people of Yoruba extraction including a traditional ruler were arrested, not a single one from Hausa extraction was invited or quizzed, not to talk of arresting any one of them.

It was little wonder the Yoruba saw the invasion as a declaration of war against them by the police, nay federal government. It was not only a desecration but a total contempt to hurt the psyche of the Yoruba race. This is because like Oyo, Ile-Ife remains a sacred and revered Yoruba town spiritually.

The myth and intended paradox of the one-sided investigation is that both sides suffered casualties, in both human and property. Could the Yoruba people commit fratricide by killing their siblings? Did they deliberately destroy their own property? The absurdity is too manifest to be debated.

That however was not the first time that the Yoruba race was put under federal awe. In its bid to put the Yoruba under federal control at all costs, Chief Obafemi Awolowo was subjected to political and psychological torture. The then federal government was the masquerade, using the then Action Group crisis in 1962 not only to bring Awolowo to shame but to ridicule the Yoruba as a people by slowing down the development stride in the Western region.

It started with the phoney Morgan Commission of Inquiry aimed at damaging the impeccability of Awolowo in public stewardship, accountability and transparency. But like the present set of patriotic Yoruba senior lawyers who now rise to defend the Ife people, the likes of Olu Ayoola rose at that time to volunteer themselves for the defence of Awolowo.

Even under the colonial administration, the likes of Awolowo, Abiodun Akerele, Bode Thomas, Ayo Rosiji, to mention a few, were always at hand to render free legal service against any form of injustice in any part of Yoruba land.

Significantly and instructively however, it is not within Yoruba land that our eminent lawyers had always risen against any form of injustice. Two cases can quickly be cited here during the Second Republic. These are the famous Shugaba deportation case and Balarabe’s impeachment saga.

In these two instances, eminent Yoruba lawyers under the late G.O.K. Ajayi assembled themselves at no cost to defend the two citizens. It was not by accident that one of the patriotic Yoruba lawyers in the defence team is the popular Yoruba irredentist, Ayo Adebanjo who is still enjoying the grace of God to be alive today. It is therefore not a surprise that at close to 90, Pa Adebanjo remains what he was 50 years ago as far as the defence of the Yoruba is concerned.

During Awolowo’s treasonable felony trials, Yoruba lawyers across the board, including Adebanjo, the late Abraham Adesanya, and hitherto political foes like Babatunde Olowofoyeku were always at hand in defence of Awolowo. What all these show is that as far as Yoruba race is concerned, injustice has neither colour not tribal marks.

With this background of political pedigree of the Yoruba in defence of justice and fair play, it only shows that the Afenifere group is just living to its responsibilities as the Vanguard of justice, fair play and transparency, not only in Yoruba land but also throughout the country.

Equally, special tribute should be paid to the eminent lawyers and Senior Advocates of Nigeria especially Wole Olanipekun, and Ahmed Raji whose chamber is coordinating the service. The two eminent senior advocates had never been found wanting whenever the interest of Yoruba is at stake.

In the case of Ahmed Raji SAN, it is Ife today just as it was Oyo yesterday. His respect for traditional institution in Yoruba land can quickly be buttressed by his quick response to the distress call of Oyo baales and chiefs over what they perceived as injustice to their ancestral land in the creation of LCDA by the Oyo State Government.

With age telling on the faces of great patriots like Pa Reuben Fasoranti and Ayo Adebanjo, one cannot but commend the likes of youthful but dynamic Yinka Odumakin and others like him in ensuring that the ideals of Afenifere do not die with these great people. Sanni wrote from Ibadan