A community leader and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Engineer Opeyemi Olabanji, has canvassed a collective fund-raising approach by the prominent citizens of Kwara South Senatorial District to curtail the ongoing banditry in the area.
At present, there have been mass movements of some people out of the troubled border settlements of the area to the metropolis, trying to evade further attacks.
Olabanji, in a press conference yesterday in Ilorin, said the developments have plundered the vast resources of his agrarian people by preventing them from practicing their age-long farming.
He urged the people of the area to pool their resources together, especially money, towards setting up credible security networks and systems to complement “the credible efforts” of the state Governor, AbdulRahaman AbdulRazaq, at securing the area.
The APC stalwart proposed a sum of N5 billion as takeoff resources for the security network, noting that such funds could be in the custody of a prominent traditional ruler in the area.
He said, “First, let me commend and appreciate the Government of Kwara State, our seven local governments, and our traditional institutions for all they are doing. Many of their efforts cannot be publicly detailed for security reasons, yet we must acknowledge and commend them.
“As rightly said by the Chairman of Ifelodun Local Government Area (Femi Yusuf) in his recent address, security is a collective responsibility. Historically, security has always been the responsibility of both government and the people.
For effective security, the people must complement the efforts of government. It is in this vein that I make the following points on the security challenges currently facing our communities in Kwara South.”
Believing that none of the settlements in the area could survive any onslaught in isolation, Olabanji said that the entire people should, like some geo-political zones in Nigeria, make their security system homogeneous.
He added, “It is therefore impossible for any individual community or enclave to ensure security in isolation. Even if you succeed in securing your village or community, as long as your neighboring community is vulnerable, you too remain vulnerable. For an effective response to the security challenges we face, the effort must be collective across Kwara South.
“According to him, “We must jointly protect and secure our northern frontiers in collaboration with the frontier communities. Security requires enormous resources. Combating insecurity demands significant resources. Security apparatus such as patrol vans, motorcycles, communication devices, surveillance equipment, uniforms, medical support, defense tools, training, and even traditional fortification of defenders are all resource-oriented.
“With many compelling needs, the government may not always be able to provide all that is required. Since security is a shared responsibility, the people must be willing to contribute towards providing the resources needed to safeguard their environment and communities.”
Going down the memory lane of the people, he said, “We, the people of Kwara South, are historically known for our self-help spirit. It is even on record that His Excellency, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, had in several of his speeches acknowledged and commended this attribute of our people.
“With our renowned spirit of self-help, we have built schools, hospitals, and even roads to complement the efforts of government. Perhaps it is time for us to reawaken and redirect this same spirit towards securing our communities. In fact, we just may have to slow down on other developmental efforts and instead focus on fighting insecurity. With insecurity, the schools we build will no longer be attended, the hospitals we build will not be visited, and the roads we build will be deserted.”
Olabanji believed that the sub-Yoruba ethnic groups of Igbomina and Ibollo that make up the people of Kwara South are allegedly blessed with notable sons and daughters who would not want their ancestral homes to be in ruins or desolate.
For him, “It is time for us to come together and raise funds to fight insecurity. Lingua franca and cultural orientation play a significant role in any security arrangement. Fortunately, Kwara South is monolingual and monocultural in nature. These count in our favour. What is left for us now is the resources, put at about ₦5 billion, to wage an effective war against insecurity. It may be christened ‘Kwara South Security Fund’ (KSSF).
“Therefore, I believe it is proper and just for our people to contribute collectively rather than pay ransoms individually. The time has come for us to tax ourselves, from the lowest to the highest—from farmers, traders, artisans, businessmen and women, workers, and all that are of Kwara South. We must adopt all fundraising modalities like launchings, galas, walks, and digital fundraising such as crowdfunding, peer-to-peer campaigns, online donation platforms, and direct appeals.”
Olabanji, from Ijan-Otun in Irepodun LGA of the state, listed other strategies as corporate sponsorships and grants, leveraging matching gift programs, pursuing opportunities like legacy gifts, and in-kind donations.
He added, “For those that may be concerned about the management of the funds, the solution is accountability. The fund can be placed under the leadership of a first-class traditional ruler unanimously agreed upon by our traditional institutions. In addition, community development associations, respected men and women of integrity, political representatives, and local government officials can also be part of the management structure. Let us act now before it is too late.”
To demonstrate his belief in this arrangement, he promised an unspecified amount of money as the pilot fund for the project, urging others to expedite actions on it before it would be too late.
