OPU blames insecurity on nepotism, ethnicity in security architecture

A South-West socio-political group, Oodua Progressive Union (OPU), said that the escalating insecurity in the country was as a result of the poor security architecture under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

It said that the administration was being coloured with nepotism, sectionalism and lack of competence. In a communiqué issued after a joint meeting of OPU members both at home and in the Diaspora in Lagos yesterday, the group said it was disturbed with the news regarding the killing of a first-class Yoruba monarch, the Olufon of Ifon, Oba Adegoke Adeusi, in Ondo State and other criminal activities across the county and in Yorubaland.

The group also expressed its displeasure at the present spate of insecurity in the country. In the communiqué, signed by OPU Europe Co-ordinator, Chief Victor Akingbayi and OPU Secretary, Mobolaji Adewale, the group condemned in totality the dastardly acts of herdsmen, who yearly burn down the farmland of former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief Olu Falae and attack on Yoruba women and villagers, among others.

While it commended the Amotekun Corps for the rescue of wife of Chief of Staff to Ondo State Governor, the group urged the Federal Government to embrace the calls for restructuring, pointing out that the issue of restructuring or self-determination is a national one that must be given necessary attention at the critical state the country found itself, saying: “Such sensitive issues must be done in the spirit of protection of human rights and peaceful co-existence.

“After a careful observation of the 1999 Constitution, we realised that the document was unfit and unproductive, making it the source of nearly all our problems. We therefore put up for immediate adoption of the 1963 Republican Constitution, to be modified in line with the reality of the six geo-political zones.

“Nigeria must be restructured to regionalism. It is also in the interest of the entire country to use the 1963 Constitution as a genuine template for proper reference and reintegration, but if the Federal Government fails to restructure this country, then we will have no option than to join the call for self-determination.”

OPU also expressed concern at the present economic situation in the country, saying it is sad that Nigeria is experiencing her third economic recession since the Buhari administration took over five years ago.

It, therefore, urged the Federal Government to open all the land borders in South-West and across the country as an urgent measure to cushion the effect of the recession, saying: “The recession is a direct consequence of locking up the economy via the closure of the borders in the South-West, whilst borders in the North remain open and porous to terrorists.”