Falae Recalls Kidnap In Tears

Chief Olu Falae, Former Secretary to the Federal Government on Friday further recalled the behind the scenes of his abduction that happened in September.

Falae, who spoke with tears intermittently dropping from his eyes, said he will consider his suffering a blessing if Yorubas are eventually liberated from the shackles of normadic Fulani herdsmen who have decided to repay their hosts with evil acts.

He made the comments when the National Cordinator of Oodua People’s Congress and Convener Oodua Progressive Union, Otunba Gani Adams, paid him a sympathy visit over his ordeal.

Pa Falae told Adams and his entourage that he believed the initial intention of the terrorist gang that came for him was to take his life.

“Before they got to my office in the farm, they shot at my car hoping I was in.

“When that did not work, they aimed a cutlass strike at my accountant thinking it was me, he dodged it but lost his ear in the process.

“That was when they came right into my office and attacked me with cutlass, slapped and tore my dress before dragging me away.

“We trekked from Akure to Owo following bush and swampy areas on my bare legs till we got to an area close to Ifon.”

On ways to curb the menace, Falae noted that his experience was just one out of several occurrences which many people have suffered in the hands of the herdsmen including rape, looting and outright killing.

He revealed that the noise generated after his kidnap especially from the likes of OPC, other socio-cultural groups in South West as well as the Yoruba Summit recently held in Ibadan, led to the prompt arrest of the gang members.

He confirmed that he identified those paraded by the Department of State Sceurity (DSS).

“I could identify one that wanted to shoot at me before he was pushed away by another gang member.

“One of them even told me that if I say negative things about them, they will come back and destroy my farm, which they did just 48 hours after I was released.

“The next day, I told my people to resist them which made them run away.”

While sympathizing with Chief Falae, Otunba Gani Adams expressed concern that if a 77 year old man can be maltreated, every one was at risk.

“It is an insult that such a revered elder statesman can be so harassed in his own land,” he lamented.

“He is not just an elder. He has been Secretary to the Federal Government, Former Finance Minister, a permanent secretary and presidential candidate.

“And if he was kept for 7 days, then ordinary citizens are in danger too.”

He restated his stand that President Muhammadu Buhari should implement all the 633 recommendations contained in the documents of the National Conference which fully addressed security, and other important sectors that can move Nigeria forward.

Continuing, “Incidentally, Chief Falae was the leader of the South West Delegation at the Conference which recommended state policing.

“State Police will address the issue of kidnapping as rampant as it is in the East, same for the security challenges being witnessed in the South West, even the issue of Boko Haram in the North can easily be tackled.

“Who can handle the problems of Boko Haram in the North than the people of various States that are affected by non-establishment of State Police?

“This does not eradicate the normal Federal Police operations as practised in US, Brazil,Canada, South Africa and many other countries with large population,” he cited.

Also on the delegation to Pa Falae’s home were Victor Mobolaji Adewale, OPU Europe deputy coordinator, Alhaji Gani Oshindele, coordinator of OPU Scandinavia, Dauda Adewusi Osho, Gambia OPU coordinator, Ondo OPU Cordinator, Rotimi Akinsowon and others.