The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi has justified agitations for good governance in the country, saying the government must ensure a speedy end to banditry and other forms of insecurity in the country.
The first class monarch who spoke in an interview with Punch Newspaper, said there was no agitation during the reign of Yoruba president, therefore the need for a quick amendment to be done to bring the country together in peace and progress.
“What are the people agitating for? They are agitating for fairness; they are saying what is sauce for the goose should be sauce for the gander. The best bet for us is to have one country, but when people are feeling otherwise, there must be reasons they are agitating. Fifteen to 20 years ago, was it like that? When Yoruba people were in power, were there agitations?
“There must be reasons and we all know the reason has to do with banditry and insecurity. Even in the North, some people are also kicking. What is important now is for us to adequately separate the grain from the chaff. I am not going to blame the agitators. There must be a reason why they are agitating.”
He, however, advised that the government should dialogue with the agitators and move the country forward in peace.
“I will suggest we talk to them; let’s bring them on board, deliberate with them. Let’s debate. It is very important for us to debate and debate on our corporate existence, for things to be right. It is very critical. For me, that is my own approach. Even when you go to war, at the end of the day, you must sit down to negotiate. So, why not have the roundtable discussion now? Why not go through that route? Why must you go through hot agitation and try to destroy things? The best approach has always been the peaceful approach”, the monarch said.