By Correspondent in Ado-Ekiti.
The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan and Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Farouq Yahaya, have urged Nigerians not to leave the fight against the ongoing insecurity ravaging Nigeria to the federal government alone, but join hands with the government to win the war.
The duo gave the advice in their speech on Saturday in Iyin-Ekiti, headquarters of Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area of Ekiti State at the conferment of the chieftaincy title of Akorewolu of Iyin-Ekiti by the Oluyin of Iyin-Ekiti, Oba Adeniyi Ajakaye on the Senate President and five other notable Nigerians.
Lawa,who expressed concern over banditry, terrorism and kidnapping, among other crime and criminality, particularly urged Nigerians to see security as a collective battle, rather than sectional.
The Akorewolu said:”Our leaders who set a vision for the country came from different constituencies, backgrounds, religious inclinations, but they had a vision that Nigeria should be best in Africa.
“Challenges were faced, but those leaders subdued them.
“Other subsequent leaders also had a vision to make Nigeria a country that will be progressive and develop.
“Today, we are facing some challenges like our former leaders used to do, we are also dealing with these challenges.
“The present Senate is dealing with the challenges facing the country despite our political and religious differences.
“Now, we are facing security challenges all over the country. Political, religious and traditional leaders must come together.
“Whether the problem is predominant in the Northwest or Northeast or Southwest or East, all hands must be on deck to resolve all these challenges. It must not be left to the government alone to tackle.
“As a matter of urgency, we should come together as a people and deal with these challenges, most of them if not all of them and make Nigeria a great country.
“No part of Nigeria can entirely face the problems facing the country and tackle them all.”
Lawan thanked the traditional ruler for the honour, saying that Nigeria Senate had done what was needed to do to make Nigeria great.
He said the Senate had passed a bill establishing Medical university in Iyin-Ekiti,sponsored by Senator Bamidele, assuring the traditional ruler that he would ensure the president’s assent to it.
“I will personally make sure I lobby President Muhammadu Buhari to assent to the bill, so that the university can take off in time,”he promised.
Speaking in the same vein, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Farouq Yahaya, also called for the collaborative efforts of Nigerians in tackling the battle against the bandits and other criminals in the country.
He said that the Nigerian Army was working tirelessly to secure the nation by containing the activities of terrorists and bandits, killing and kidnapping the citizens,a development he noted, had subjected the nation to unnecessary chaos and panic.
“The Armed Forces are doing their best to secure the nation and we will continue in the task of making Nigeria free from this present situation.
“Security is a business of everybody, including all stakeholders, particularly the community leaders. It is the responsibility of every Nigerian.
“We therefore appeal to Nigerians to join us in the task of securing the nation.
“We are also ready to work with other sister agencies to secure our nation. We are also tapping from the experiences of those that had served before us in the Armed Forces to guide us in my present task of securing the nation,”Yahaya said.
Lawan, who arrived the event in company of more than 30 Senators, including Senator Micheal Opeyemi Bamidele,an indigene of Iyin-Ekiti representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District, described him as a reliable politician who valued integrity, propriety, professionalism and development of the country, especially Ekiti.
Addressing the gathering, Sen.Bamidele, who donated Coaster bus to the Oluyin- in-Council, promised continued hard work to attract dividends of democracy to Ekiti state.
He applauded the leadership of the Senate for showing glowing passion in bringing development to all the 109 Senatorial districts across the country.
The Oluyin, Oba Adeniyi Ajakaye, who was marking his first coronation on the throne, said the chieftaincy bestowed on Lawan and others was to appreciate Lawan’s special love for the community.
The traditional ruler described the bill on University of Medical Sciences, recently passed by the Senate, as a special anniversary gift to the entire Iyin-Ekiti sons and daughters, but appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to assent to it.
“Assent by the President will give Iyin-Ekiti a new name, nomenclature and a change in the landscape, I want to sincerely appreciate Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, our son,for his interest in the town.
The anniversary was attended by traditional rulers with Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi represented at the occasion while the Onisan of Isan-Ekiti, Oba Gabriel Adejuwon, led all Ekiti traditional rulers to the event.
Those that received the Chieftaincy titles along with the Senate President are: retired Maj. Gen. and Mrs Johnson Olawumi,as the Jagunmolu and Erelu Jagunmolu of Iyin Kingdom, Mr and Mrs Haim Halle, the Otunba Atayese and Erelu Atayese of Iyin Kingdom.
Others are Mr Ayodeji Adeosun, the Otunba Akeweje of Iyin Kingdom, Mrs Veronica Ndanusa, the Erelu Arobake of Iyin Kingdom.
Late Professors. Babalola Borisade and Ayo Arije were conferred with posthumous award of excellence and award of excellence respectively.
The Onisan of Isan-Ekiti and Chairman, Council of Obas in Ekiti, Oba Gabriel Adejuwon, the Ekiti Deputy Governor, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi, the Oluyin of Iyin-Ekiti and his Olori among important dignitaries also attended the ceremony.
