Funke Olakunrin: Political romance between the North and West in the balance

Mrs Funke Olakunrin/ photo source from the Nation

The news of the death of Mrs Funke Olakunrin, daughter of Chief Reuben Fasoranti who's the chairman of the Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, has sent a shockwave across the western geographical location of the Nigerian nation.

Mrs Olakunrin is believed to have been attacked yesterday along Ore Junction from Akure, Ondo State, by persons suspected to be herdsmen.

According to a report by Punch, Afenifere's spokesman Mr Yinka Odumakin, said the death of Mrs Funke Olakunrin has been confirmed with culprits believed to be herdsmen based on reports by eyewitnesses.



Odumakin said the death of the daughter of the group's chairman is "one too many and a clear we-can-take-it-no-more death” situation.

Another report by Sahara Reporters says the Yoruba race who are believed to be the only dark spot in the southern region of country due to their political romance with the north, will not take death of one of its own likely if it truly turns out that Fulani herdsmen are the culprits.



Afenifere described attacks on its own people as a 'declaration of war' the report says.

Odumakin said: “When they started with the kidnapping process, they started with Olu Falae, a prominent leader in Akure.

“Whether deliberately or intentionally, this is clearly a declaration of war on the Yoruba. They shall hear from the Yoruba nation.”

"The people will hear from us. They started with Olu Falae. They macheted him, kept him in the bush for four days before Ondo State government paid a ransom to get Falae out.


“With this, this is the beginning of the end of their kidnap in Yorubaland,” Odumakin said.

There has been efforts by a couple of western states to keep the activities of herdsmen in check to avoid unfortunate situations like the death of Mrs Funke Olakunrin. While it is yet to be determined whether or not the attacks were carried out by herdsmen as suggested by eye witnesses, it does appears that the recent incident is one of many reasons the south went all out against the now suspended Ruga Settlement Project proposed by the Buhari administration.

How the current government would win over Nigerians in the face of herdsmen attacks across the country, now appears very much like a camel passing through the eye of a needle.