From Priscilla Ediare, Ado-Ekiti
The Planter of the Christ Apostolic Church (“Boanerges”), Prophet Ade Ologbonyo, has expressed concern over the rising insecurity in Nigeria, calling on President Bola Tinubu to scale up the fight against insecurity ravaging the country.
The Cleric who lamented that kidnappings and killings of farmers and other people in Nigeria are having serious negative impact on farming communities and the country at large noted that such happenings may plunge the country into famine and cause decline in economic activities.
Prophet Ologbonyo made the call in his message for the New Year while sanctifying the Erin Ijesha community in Osun State.
Expressing regrets, he cited the kidnapping of a cocoa businessman and a woman not too long ago, for which ransoms were paid to secure their release.
According to him, such incidents across the country and the recent massacre in Plateau State make it imperative for the government to find a long-term solution to the nation’s current security challenges.
Supporting his views, the religious leader said, “The Punch Newspaper of June 29, 2023, reported that 128 farmers died in 2023 between the months of January and June.”
He added, ” an intelligence report by SB Morgan, titled ‘The Economics of Nigeria’s Kidnap Industry,’ published on August 23, 2023, reported that 3,620 people were kidnapped in 582 incidents relating to kidnapping, with a reported ransom demand of at least N5 billion and actual ransom payments of N302 million.”
The renowned cleric noted that the rate at which farmers are abducted from their farms has made them to be scared of going to farms. He asked, who will be producing food for us all when farmers are afraid of farming because of kidnappers?
Prophet Ologbonyo urged state and local governments to work with the federal government to address insecurity in the country so that the lives and property of Nigerians can be protected.
The man of God who tasked government at all levels to create new revenue streams, so as to boost Nigeria’s economy, urged them to invest in tourism and harness tourism potentials in the states and country.
He mentioned Erin Ijesha’s Olumirin Waterfall as a good example of a possible source of revenue.
His words: “The waterfall is among the top tourist destinations in the nation, but once more, apprehension about visiting this natural wonder arises from past reports of kidnappings in the region. Numerous other tourist destinations across the nation are also affected by this similar insecurity problem. The government ought to increase revenue creation from these kind of sources and lessen the country’s excessive reliance on crude oil.”
During a prayer session with the man of God, the monarch of Erin Ijesha, HRM Oba Isaac Adeyeba Ayeni, the Akinla of Erin Ijesha Kingdom, urged the sons and daughters of Erin Ijesha to come and lend some support to make the waterfall a tourist site as many efforts have been made in that regard.