WAEC ex-Registrar urges Buhari to address secessionists’ concerns

A former Registrar of West African Examinations Council (WAEC), Chief Olu Alex Ajayi, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to address the concerns of secessionist agitators to ensure lasting peace in the country.

Ajayi said that perceived injustices, structural imbalances in favour of a section of the country by the political leadership was the cause of agitations for secession.

The former WAEC registrar said that the people appeared to be tired of bad governance by the political elite.

He said that while he was not opposed to the unity of the country, it must be based on justice and equality of all citizens, irrespective of places of birth.

Ajayi spoke in Ado-Ekiti, at the weekend, during an interactive session with newsmen to herald his 91st birthday slated for June 28, 2021.

The nonagenarian said that agitation for the secession of the South-West for Oduduwa republic was a genuine agitation.

He said: “To me, Oduduwa is a genuine agitation and reaction against the insult we are receiving from some people who thought they are superior and more entitled than us.

“It is a necessary reaction from the unthinkable insult we are getting from some people. One of those that had been insulting us even said they will continue their conquest until everyone up to the lagoon are under their political and cultural hegemony.

“Though, as much as I do not support the break-up of the nation, we are entitled to self-respect, self-reverence and liberty and we should be free from oppression.

“For the Federal Government to stop the agitation, all the noticeable injustices must be addressed.”

The former Ado-Ekiti Local Council Chairman supported the banning of open grazing by the Southern Governors’ Forum, describing the practice as anachronistic and primitive.

“Every state must create where cattle can graze. There should be ranches in all the states where we can keep our cattle and restrict their movement. During the time of Chief Obafemi Awolowo in the old Western Region, he created ranches at Erunfun and Oke-Ako in Ekiti State. During that time, we had better breeds of cattle in this part of the world.

“I feel benumbed, insulted and terrified when pastors and monarchs were kidnapped and made to pay ransom. This should not continue.”