Gen. Bajowa hosts 1st Ikale Security Observer summit as stakeholders pledge commitment to security and unity in Ikaleland.
– Steve Ovirih.
The Igbotako country home of Prince (Dr.) Gen. Olu Bajowa, OFR ( RTD) was a beehive of activity on Friday the 17th September as there was a convergence of notable Ikale Royal Fathers, Olojas , opinion moulders and Community leaders across Ikale nation. Members and personnel of different security outfits in Ondo State were also on ground. The purpose of the coming together of these notable Ikale personalities was to attend a summit at the behest of Ikale Security Observer (ISO), a non- governmental organization put together by Ikale sons and daughters in the Diaspora under the Chairmanship of Prof. Salewa Olafioye, Aare of Ikaleland, Nigerian born Michigan based Medical Doctor and former United Nations consultant.
The summit which held via zoom for Nigerians of Ikale extraction in the Diaspora to interface with Ikale Royal Fathers and other Community stakeholders started with the ‘ breaking of cola’ which saw the broken cola pass round the monarchs accompanied with prayer of peace and development for the land.
The host of the Summit, Gen. Bajowa in his address expressed his enthusiasm and support for the agenda of Ikale Security Observer (ISO). “On behalf of His Royal Majesty, Oba (Dr) Gbadebo Bajowa, JP, The Rebuja of Osooro kingdom, I greet you all the Ikale Royal Fathers here present , Chairmen of Irele and Okitipupa Local Government Areas, all Commanders of Government Security
Agencies and all the security stakeholders in Ikaleland and in the Diaspora joining this summit via zoom.
“I particularly feel greatly honored and privileged to host the first Ikale home security summit organized by Ikale Security Observer ( ISO) at my Igbotako -Osooro residence today, Friday 17th September, 2021,” Gen. Bajowa noted.
The Jagunmolu of Ikaleland said he was impressed that Royal Fathers in Ikale, Security Stakeholders and Ikales in the Diaspora have come together to collectively address the issues of security in Ikaleland. ” This is a laudable and commendable Initiative as insecurity is one of the major challenges currently facing Nigeria.
” Happily, this is an area which I can confidently comment , being my professional constituency. More so , that I was the Chairman of the Ikale Rehabilitation Fundraising Committee, to reconstruct and reactivate the destroyed government facilities and private property, consequent upon the 2020 Endsars Protest.”
While emphasizing the importance of security in Ikaleland, the Ojagbulegun from the source said without security and peaceful communal existence, development will be hamstrung not only in Ikaleland but across the nation. He harped on the need to set up security network outfit with adequately equipped vigilantes, hunters and neighborhood informants who will be provided with all the necessary operational wherewithal and logistics.
” I fervently hope that the outcome of today’s brainstorming exercise of the ISO project for Ikaleland will provide veritable , positive and realistic solutions for the centralised Ikale Security Network, ” Gen. Bajowa added.
In a brilliantly marshalled standpoints, the guest speaker at the summit, Chief Abayomi Akeremale, Retired Commissioner of Police and a legal luminary pointed out that the aim of the organization is to examine how best to collaborate with the Police and other security agencies to protect the people of Ikale and their property from external aggressors and internal invaders, noting that economic development and progress can only be recorded in the absence of security threat to lives and property.
The Retired Police boss said, ” we are grouping all the hunters in Ikaleland; we shall screen them and place them in sectors under area commands and we shall place each sector under a Royal father , supported by one ‘ Olori Ode ( head of hunters) commanding 10 ‘ Ogbojuodes (crack professional hunters).” He added that the following Committees shall be constituted by each traditional ruler : Administrative , need Assessment and Disciplinary Committees.
Chief Akeremale called for more cooperation and unity among the Royal Fathers for the success of the lofty security agenda as canvassed by ISO. ” We know that our traditional rulers are united; we want this unity to continue and be improved upon so that our unity shall be a source of our collective strength,” Akeremale reiterated.
No sooner had the zoom session looped in ISO members in the Diaspora than the affable voice of Prince Dokun Faduyile wafted in from his base in United States.
He anchored the feelers opinion from abroad at the session. Prince Faduyile particularly thanked all the Ikale Royal Fathers who graced the summit , stressing that the organization holds the monarchs in very high esteem.
Professor. Salewa Olafioye,
the Aare of Ikaleland,
Chairman/ President of Ikale security observer while contributing vide zoom stressed thus,
“ protection of lives and property of Ikale is of uttermost importance to the Ikales in the Diaspora. It is only when our people at home are safe that we can feel comfortable abroad because no matter how long we stay overseas , we are still going to return to our homestead.”
President, Ikale World Congress (IWC), Chief Dayo Ayebo, who is also based in United States of America, while contributing his remark at the summit on zoom gave reason for the formation of Ikale Security Observer thus,
“The idea of formation ISO came onboard on February 7th this year during the IKALE WORLD CONGRESS zoom meeting with Gen. Bajowa regarding the destruction of both government and private property worth Billions of Naira by EndSars protest in Okitipupa last year.” On the need for unity among Ikale monarchs , Chief Ayebo said,
“We are hoping on God Almighty to help us build unity amongst our royal fathers, because without unity the security summit will be fruitless.
We are still consulting them individually and we believe the unity is achievable .”
On the sidelines of the event, thepolity.net asked Chief Ayebo if ISO will morph into a security outfit and this was his response:
“That is not our plan for now, but to consolidate the legitimate efforts on ground.”
On his assessment of the 1st Homeland summit of ISO, President of Ikale World Congress responded,
“Very fantastic!”
In the opinion of Mr. Olufemi Ayetiran, UK based Secretary General of ISO and Secretary General of Egbe Omo Ikale in United Kingdom and Ireland, the meeting is a historical one as it has brought together all the revered Ikale monarchs to speak in one voice on the security challenge bedeviling the land.
“It’s firstly a good day in the history of Ikaleland to witness our Royal Fathers – the custodians of our unique heritage and culture gather to deliberate on the way to secure our environment and the people.
“The foundation is indeed good and I am hopeful that the super structure will be lasting as long as we continue to seek right counsel.
Special thanks to our host ,Rtd. General Olu Bajowa and our Nigerian based Coordinators for all the networking preceding the event.
Special thanks to our leadership team and particularly the President Ikale Security Observer – Professor Salewa Olafioye.”
Mrs Alabi, PRO of Ikale Security Observer in her own contribution said, “I just want to appreciate the collaboration of our (Ikale) Kings, Olojas, Chiefs and other Stakeholders concerning our Security; very impressive!
Looking forward to seeing more of this and Stronger Ikale land.”
The Ilutitun born United States based Pastor Tunji Ogunmola while expressing his remark said the organization is established to engender safety of lives and property in Ikale , pleading with the Royal Fathers to discourage Ikale youths from picking interest in activities that are prone to crime. ” I will implore the leaders and coordinators to watch the activities of the hunters and vigilantes,” Pastor Ogunmola added.
In his contribution,
the Igbodigo Prince and US based Markson Kunle Ayeku charged the Royal Fathers to value the human assets in their domain, noting that if the Royal Fathers don’t reach out to their sons and daughters abroad with the kind of challenges they have at home, there is no way those in the Diaspora will channel their help when they are not carried along. Prince Ayeku particularly saluted the commitment of the amazing amazon and first Ikale female Regent, Princess Barr. Oluyemi Bajowa for picking up the gauntlet and launching Lumure Hunters Association (LHA), a local security organization established to provide security around Ayeka kingdom.
Alex Olowu who contributed from Canada saluted the resolve of all the Ikale stakeholders , appealing to the Royal Fathers to bury their differences for the sake of peace and development of Ikale and its environ.
Chief Mrs. Gbemi Afun Onasanya , retired Permanent Secretary in Ogun State who spoke with thepolity .net at the summit thanked the organizers, noting that they are successful people abroad but have not forgotten their root and origin , Ikaleland. She said if the Ikales abroad are so much concerned about security at home from their respective comfort zone abroad, all hands must be on deck at home to ensure there is adequate security of lives and property.
Barr. Morebise who also spoke with thepolity.net appealed to all to bear in mind that security is a collective effort and should not be left in the hands of the security personnel alone. ” Beyond the issue of security is the challenge of economic security. If government continues to appropriate economic benefits of the people like their land, there is no way this will not bring about heating up the polity and this too should be urgently looked into,” Barr. Morebise added.
While reacting on behalf of the Royal Fathers, the Oniju of Iju- Odo, Oba Festus Olumoyegun thanked the conveners of the Summit , assuring them of the support of Ikale monarchs in their agende to consolidate on security in Ikaleland.
Among the dignitaries at the event were the Abodi of Ikaleland, HRM Oba George Babatunde Faduyile, Jegun Idepe Okitipupa, HRM , Oba Michael Adetoye, Rebuja of Osooro, HRM, Oba Gbadebo Bajowa, Majuwa of Ilutitun, HRH, Oba Earnest Idepefo, Halu of Aye, HRH, Oba Williams Akinlade, Ahaba of Ajagba, HRH, Thomas Adesayo, represented by his High Chief, Regent of Irele, Prince Lanre Ayeromara, Regent of Erinje, Prince Ipinsanmi Adekanye, Liha of Ayeka, Prince Babatunde Ayeyowa, Chief Oluwole Akinbo, the General Manager of Awawa Radio Station, the Area Commanders of both Okitipupa, and Ilutitun and a host of others.
