By Uchenna Eletuo
THE OODUA Peoples Congress (OPC) on Thursday expressed its readiness to partner the federal government to improve security in the country.
The OPC, a social-cultural and vigilante vanguard of the South-West Nigeria, made the appeal at the 30th Anniversary of the organisation held in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event, which attracted delegates from Yoruba speaking states, as well as FCT, Kogi and Edo, paid tributes to its Founder, late Dr Frederick Fasehun and others.
The event featured cultural displays of the South-West, deliberated on the state of the nation, and proffered solutions for improved security for a better Nigerian society.
Speaking at the event, OPC President, Wasiu Afolabi, said the organisation had what it took to quell the spate of violence in the country.
“OPC is a child of necessity formed at the aftermath of June 12 that shortchanged the Yoruba race and Nigerians, to stand as a buffer to the raping of the people’s aspirations.
“It is an absurdity that the rampant insecurity in the land has pushed cost of food items out of the reach of the people.
“Our officers who are trained to maintain orderliness can secure our forests and farmlands to enable farmers return to the farm and produce foods that can feed the country.
“We are appealing to President Bola Tinubu to give the organisation the opportunity to contribute our quota to the security of the nation.
“The president needs to restore to OPC the pipeline security that the previous government of Buhari terminated from the organisation,” he said.
He noted that the measure would tackle unemployment in the zone, prevent food insecurity and halt pipeline vandals.
Also speaking at the event, the OPC Abuja Federal Capital Territory, represented by Mr Ismalia Olayiwola, said that, with the spread of the organisation to other zones of the country, the orientation of the members had changed from the South-West posture to national outlook.
He stressed that the members were subjected to reforms that transcended the Yoruba race to encompass the Nigeria national outlook. (NAN)
