Beyond Amotekun debate:, There is a Disturbing trend that must be checked

Beyond the demonstration of  power of unity among the South West Governors and their people, the public  debates that trailed the launching of Operation Amoketun, revealed something disturbing about this generation of Yoruba intellectuals (and of course Nigerians as a whole).

Something more serious and perhaps with far reaching tragic consequences. The region is losing its grip on its environment and many intellectuals didn't really imagine how grave this is. for them and for the future generation.

First of, the security issues can be brought to its heel and resolved, but the devastation of the environment, endangered animals, and the historical legacies will be lost forever unless some actions are set in motion right now and with sense of urgency. The  Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka  called the governors to embark on Project Awosikun to complement the Operation Amotekun,, to which I totally agree. There is the need also for the third, and it is for all of us . Not just south west Nigeria.

First time in 2020 that i went round to read on some political groups on Facebook and saw many debating whether  Amotekun should  or not be. On a popular group I had merely posted a sarcasm to question the noise on Amotekun  but it soon became a thread to define what kind of animal Amotekun  is.

I read many comments there and elsewhere with bemusement. Not that they  are irrelevant  but that a large portion of Yoruba language is being lost while also exposing the shameful attitude  to conservation  of our environment  and animal reserve. There are still forests in South West Nigeria of course but How much of the wild animals we still have there is debatable as our people use every opportunity  to turn any unfortunate animal into barbecue and keep the skins as a reminder of their bravado.

Now many of their children  only see the skins of those animals so they are now confused as to what class of wild cat is Amotekun  since their father have turned most of them into endangered species  through  their carelessness and lack of foresight on conservation of their forest reserve.

Beyond security there are many lessons in this and while the professor had recommended Awosikun as the next project i think there should also be a focus on conservation of our wild animals as well as the forests.

There used to be elephants in this part of the world but our "gallant" Ode Aperin who made their living by showcasing their bravery  through hinting of wild animals  have sent them all to the brink of extinction if not already in extinction.

The new generation of Nigerians should begin to have a new orientation about wildlife conservation  Or else our future grand children will only been seeing those species on google image and never in real life and they will be debating needless things as we do today on what kind of wild cat Amotekun  is. And by ridiculous  extension, they may even come to think it was an imaginative tale by moonlight and had never really existed. The only cat they probably will see is the domestic cat climbing their roof  to hunt for rats and steal meats. That is if those  ones are saved from going into extinction as well.

Sometimes ago, a big whale was wash off the lagoon and hundreds of human scavengers mobbed  it. Knives and bowl in hands and some even came with electric  saw. In few hours the hapless creature have been reduced to bones. Same thing happened in south east. I do not think it is hunger that instigated this; for without that whale the scavengers will not die of starvation. It is our attitude to wild animals and seeing each as a delicacy to be savor that is driving us. We have enough of domestic and eatable animals around us but some still think their pride is better magnified when they had taste of wild animals and wear it skin or hang it on their wall..

Amotekun  the tiger.. Amotekun  the cheetah Amotekun  the kiniun Amotekun  the Ekun Amotekun  the ologbo la rere.. Amo.... whatever it is.. preserver the environment and stop destroying wild animals.

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