Popular preacher and former chairman of the Oyo State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Sheikh Taofeek Akeugbagold, in this interview with SAM NWAOKO and SAHEED SALAWU, speaks on the security situation in the country, particularly the escalation of insecurity in the South West through kidnappings, and the attachment of religion to the problem.
Insecurity is a major issue in the South West now. What would you say about the recent abduction of students and teachers in Oyo State?
I know Governor Seyi Makinde is a calm and level-headed person, full of wisdom and intelligence. He should use every available means to secure the freedom of the abducted schoolchildren and teachers. I do not support the payment of ransom or any other form of negotiation with terrorists because their demands have never benefited the country. Therefore, the governor should explore ways to emerge from this situation successfully and bring the victims home safely. He has recorded many successes, and I pray this situation will not be an exception. Governor Makinde stands out among his peers in Nigeria. He is a performing governor, and everybody knows it.
You recently listed things you said the Yoruba must do if they are not to be overrun by bandits from the North. What informed those points?
Islam teaches us to be conscious of the security and well-being of our country, state, or wherever we belong. It is a global religion that teaches us to love our country. I said that unless the Yoruba correct some of the mistakes we are making, our land may soon be overrun by bandits. One of these issues concerns religion. The problem of radical Islamic ideology must be addressed in Yorubaland. Its propagators are sowing seeds of discord among us. We should all subject ourselves to the rule of law, while religious laws should be practised only among adherents of a particular faith. Religious differences were never a major issue in the South-West. During major religious festivals, Muslims and Christians celebrated together. However, when some people come out and claim that their religion permits them to kill anyone who does this or that, they create hostility towards Islam among followers of other faiths. Because of this unchecked behaviour, the Yoruba no longer enjoy the religious harmony we once had. The preaching of radical ideologies has eaten deeply into the peace of our society in the South-West. It is wrong for anyone to go online and claim that any Muslim who congratulates Christians during Christmas is a kafir (disbeliever) destined for hellfire.
During the early days of Islam, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) was persecuted in Makkah, his birthplace. His enemies plotted to kill him, and he fled to Ta’if. Before he arrived there, however, a delegation from Makkah had already reached the city and spread falsehoods about him. As a result, he was rejected and even stoned as he left. He returned to Makkah, where persecution continued. At the time, there were no Muslims powerful enough to offer him protection. Instead, Mut’im bin Adi, a pagan chieftain, provided him with protection and safe passage. The man was a non-Muslim. When it comes to security, religion should not be a dividing factor. There must be cooperation, and all hands must be on deck to ensure our collective safety. It is only in times of peace that people can freely go to the mosque, church, or shrine to worship. This radical ideology is becoming increasingly dangerous. What is particularly concerning is that some of those spreading religious hate speech are close to people in the corridors of power.
Then there is the issue of the underutilised Old Oyo National Park. It is a vast forest area, and there are hardly wild animals there. The park stretches towards the Benin Republic and passes through Saki, Kishi and Ogbomoso, linking Kwara State and parts of Niger State. I have been saying for the past two years that if bandits intend to infiltrate the South West, they are likely to use this route because it links Kainji Lake National Park, which in turn connects to another national park in Borno State. It is easy for them to move through these forest corridors. They would not use the main roads; they would travel through the forests on motorbikes.
About a month before the Oyo State abductions, there was a kidnapping incident in Eda Oniyo in Ekiti State. Up to now, those abducted there have not been rescued. Similar incidents have occurred in Kwara State. However, this is the first time such an incident has happened in a core South West area. What made it easy for the criminals was the fact that the national park is underutilised and inadequately secured. The abduction of the children and teachers in Oyo State is being used by terrorists to send a message to the Nigerian government and the international community, especially President Donald Trump of the United States, that despite military offensives and claims that they are being eliminated, they still exist and remain active. The government’s decision not to negotiate with them is understandable, but lives are at stake, and that makes the situation far more complicated.
As a Muslim leader, are you not embarrassed that many of those perpetrating these crimes claim to be Muslims?
We cannot say there are no Muslims among them, but not all bandits are Muslims. The problem is not Islam; it is a broader societal problem. If we continue to tie the issue solely to religion, it will be difficult to find a lasting solution. These people are merely using Islam as a cover. You may call yourself a Muslim, but is your behaviour Islamic? Are your actions consistent with the teachings of the Holy Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)? The Holy Prophet was sent as a mercy to all mankind.
In Nigeria, there are terrorists believed to have international connections, while others are allegedly supported by politicians who use them to destabilise governments they oppose. It is a very complex situation that Nigeria finds itself in.
What advice do you have for Yoruba leaders on the security of the South West?
My advice centres on four points. First is the issue of the Old Oyo National Park and the need to secure it properly. Second, there is a need to review the security architecture of the South West. This is where we appeal to the President to allow state police. We need state police as well as regional governance structures. There should also be a deliberate effort to encourage more people from the South West to enlist in the military. The majority of military personnel are from the North. It is not a matter of cheating; they are planning ahead by encouraging their children to join the armed forces, while many in the South West focus primarily on office jobs.
Third, South West leaders should encourage large-scale farming. Much of the food consumed in the region comes from the North: yam, rice, pepper, beans and beef. Ironically, much of the North is semi-arid, while we live in a forest zone, yet they are feeding us. Very few able-bodied young people remain in South West villages. In contrast, many young northerners are actively engaged in agriculture. Whether rich or poor, many northerners have farms and livestock. If you travel from Kano to Abuja or Maiduguri, you will see hundreds of acres of farmland on both sides of the road. But from Lagos to Ibadan, extensive farmland is rare. Instead, you see churches and mosques. We need to persuade governments to invest more heavily in agriculture in the South West. Many agricultural initiatives in the North are supported through government funding, particularly irrigation schemes. Farmers receive tractors and fertiliser support. Oyo State is making commendable efforts in agriculture, but I believe more can still be done. In the South West and indeed the country, Seyi Makinde stands out as one of the best governors.
The fourth issue is religious radicalism. Leaders of all religious groups in the region should work together to promote mutual understanding and harmony. We should see one another as brothers and sisters. If conflict breaks out here, countries such as Saudi Arabia, Israel, Brazil or India will not automatically accept us because we share religious affiliations with their citizens. At best, they may offer temporary refuge. This is the only land where we can live freely without a visa. Why can’t we tolerate one another and manage our affairs peacefully? Everyone should be free to serve God according to their beliefs without disturbing others. That is what I have been preaching for decades.
What advice do you have for northern leaders, especially regarding insecurity in the North?
I love the North very much. In fact, one of my wives is from Katsina State. While I am from the South West and remain deeply committed to the region, I am also a committed Nigerian who believes in the unity of the country. I appeal to northern leaders to guide the younger generation. One important bond between the South West and the North is Islam. The relationship between the Yoruba and northern merchants during the era of Old Oyo remains an important part of our history. We must see one another as Nigerians first. We must work for one Nigeria, while also checking the excesses of our youths, especially those who have access to weapons.
As the nation approaches another election cycle, in what direction should the country move?
President Bola Tinubu should lay the foundation for securing Nigeria’s political future. He has the capacity to do so. There is an urgent need to rescue the country’s political future. All the existing political parties have become virtually indistinguishable. The same people move from one party to another, carrying the same ideas and approaches with them. Politics has become dominated by money. One way to address this is to create a new political movement made up entirely of fresh faces, without the involvement of established politicians. There are many brilliant young men and women across different professions who have not been shaped by the current political culture. They should form a new political force capable of taking power in 2031. We cannot continue with a system in which many politicians appear more interested in personal enrichment than public service. Indeed, I would advise that the children of former political office holders should not automatically dominate such a movement, so that the same political culture is not simply passed down from one generation to another. If we want a brighter future for Nigeria, we must pursue this idea seriously. Similar approaches have worked in several developed countries.
