I support Amotekun project, I am only concerned about the possible failure of handsome projects in Nigeria due to many “Nigerian factors”. For this project, we must caution (possible) over zealousness of the operatives, political game and other possible side effects of the project. Well, that is a discussion for another day. My thought for today is where Kwara state stands aftermath of amotekun project and how it may affect us as a MIDDLE BELT STATE.
Kwara state is one of the oldest states in Nigeria; she is the mother of Kogi state and some reasonable parts of Niger state. The state has rich confluence culture of Northern and Southern Nigeria ; with its own challenges, Kwara state is arguably one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria. Out of the sixteen Local Goverment Areas in Kwara state, about eight are predominantly Yoruba speaking areas while others are contestable in the light of history.
Almost all the states in Nigeria including FCT in the last 7 years had had a touch of terrorism, kidnapping, ritual attack, rioting and killing, but the state of harmony has a mild pocket of this uproar. If not politicking, kwara hardly surface on the front page of the national dailies.
Maiduguri used to be one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria, while other Northern states are having their own socio-religious and cultural crises, you hardly hear of Bornu and its environs as they were relatively peaceful years back, this illustrations go for states like Benue, Nassarawa and Niger state.
Looking at the position of kwara on the map, we are placed at the middle belt, and we tend to be at the receiving end of any good or evil coming from either the North or Southern part of Nigeria. I remember the deportation of Northern beggars and miscreant from Lagos state during Fashola’s tenure, there was a carnival of beggars on the street of Ilorin and other major towns in Kwara state, we are still with the adverse effect of that action till date. What becomes of our neighbouring towns if South-west Amotekun succeeds?
One of the reason Boko-haram failed in Kaduna and Kano states were the fact that the state was and still remain a flash point of crisis; elements for cohesion is already in place. Kwara state lacks the internal mechanism to contain any form of serious unrest, knowing fully well that there is no society without crisis. Everyone in kwara state including security operatives can be considered to be relaxed, holding on to peaceful nature of the state, we must not forget that crises strive in peaceful environment than troubled region. Security bar should be raised with effective mechanism to contain and forestall unseen effects of AMOTEKUN project.
Most towns and villages in kwara state are predominant farming settlements, we have subtle encroachment of farmland by herdsman even though the end result was bloodless, but most farmers count losses. By the time South west becomes unbearable for these men of underworld, without doubt, they will look for any place to ply their trade.
Kwarans should not be fooled, or wool wink into believing the old story that we are part of the North. NO! we are just political tools in the hands of the core Northern states like every other Middle Belt or North Central states. When it comes to scoring political points, we become Northerners, but otherwise we are just a passage. We must take a decisive step and play the role of devil’s advocate to prevent any possible fall out. As the old saying goes, prevention is free
By kiyesola Ismaila, ACILG (USA)