By Dr. Akinbobola Otitoju
The Yoruba proverb says: “Mọkanmokan l’oye nkan” – gradually, responsibility gravitates towards you. It is a call to maturity, a reminder that as generations pass, the weight of leadership and community duty shifts to the younger ones. Today, in Okunland, this proverb finds urgent relevance in the face of rising insecurity.
In recent times, our land has witnessed disturbing cases of kidnapping, murder, and other social vices. These incidents not only endanger lives but also threaten the very foundation of progress. No town or community can truly prosper when fear overshadows daily living.
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Yet, we must also acknowledge that some of our sons and daughters are already rising to this challenge. Their actions, though perhaps modest in scale, send a powerful message: security is not the duty of government alone.
The truth is simple: a secured environment is the soil on which the seed of progress grows. Farmers cannot invest in planting when their safety is at risk. Traders will not flourish where markets are unsafe. Schools cannot thrive if parents fear for their children’s journey to class. Development collapses in the absence of peace.
This is why the youth of Okunland must awaken to their role. From okada riders who ply our roads daily, to corner shop owners who keep an eye on their neighborhoods, to transporters who link our towns and villages; every one of us must become stakeholders in security. It begins with vigilance, grows through cooperation with security agencies, and is sustained by active participation in community-based initiatives.
The proverb, Mọkanmokan l’oye nkan, reminds us that the mantle of responsibility is no longer “for others.” It is ours. The time has come for the young generation of Okunland to rise, not with complaints, but with contributions; not with fear, but with courage.
Only then can our land be secure. Only then can we build the peace that attracts prosperity. Only then can Okunland truly progress.
Dr. Akinbobola Otitoju writes from Abuja.
