As Nigeria commemorated Democracy Day, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, made a passionate appeal for a more robust response to the nation’s security crisis. The revered monarch emphasized that the government must accelerate efforts to curb banditry, kidnapping, and other crimes that continue to plague the country.
In a statement delivered on Friday in Ile-Ife through his Director of Media and Public Affairs, Moses Olafare, the Ooni highlighted the persistent security challenges that threaten peace and development. He described insecurity as one of the greatest obstacles to Nigeria’s progress and urged citizens to remain patient while supporting government initiatives to tackle both security and economic issues.
The traditional ruler stressed that no responsible administration would allow insecurity to persist, arguing that citizen safety is fundamental to national growth. He called for a comprehensive overhaul of the security architecture, better intelligence gathering, proper equipping of security agencies, and swift prosecution of offenders.
Democracy thrives best in an atmosphere of peace, security, and justice. As we celebrate another Democracy Day, I urge governments at all levels to intensify the fight against insecurity and banditry, the Ooni declared.