…restates commitment to traditional institution
SOJI AJIBOLA, IBADAN
Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde has met with traditional rulers and service chiefs in his resolve to find a lasting solution to reported cases of insecurity in the 33 local government areas of the state.
Governor Makinde at the meeting which had in attendance Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, other prominent traditional rulers in the state and service chiefs declared that his administration would continue to work with traditional rulers in all the nooks and crannies of the state to tackle insecurity.
He added that his government would equally continue to protect the lives and properties of citizens.
He maintained that as part of measures to improve the security situation in the state, the administration has set up a Security Task Force comprising cabinet members and heads of security agencies including Operation Burst and Amotekun.
Makinde added that the government has equally introduced the voluntary policing approach in which non-state actors will work together with other security agencies to tackle insecurity in the state.
Describing them as all-important stakeholders in the issue of security, the governor called on traditional rulers to join hands with the state government to improve the security of the state.
The governor, who reiterated the need for qualitative intelligence gathering, said there could be no security without intelligence gathering, adding that his government would continue to improve security in the state, as the economic growth being experienced in Oyo State, can only be sustained if there is adequate security.
He said: “I have said before that security cannot work without intelligence gathering and we cannot gather intelligence without getting closer to the people. In all of the troubled areas across our state, the royal fathers often get information before we do, and that is why it is important that we must collaborate with you.
“The reason we are in this meeting today is that security is one of the four pillars of our administration, and one of our key policies as contained in the roadmap for accelerated development in Oyo State (2019-2023).
“There are actually four cardinal points, which this administration is standing on. We have Health, Education, Expansion of our Economy and Security. So, If Oyo State is to continue on the path to economic growth, then, the state’s security architecture must be maintained.
“So far, Oyo State is doing well economically and this is as a result of the policies which this administration has put in place. For example, the February 2021 inflation report for all food items showed that Oyo State has the lowest inflation rate in the country.
“While other states are battling with increases in food prices and other things, in Oyo State, the cost of transportation, housing and food items, including bread, yam, fruits and vegetables, have remained stable. But if we want to continue to enjoy this stability, we must ensure that we maintain a secure environment.”
The governor, who sought the cooperation and support of all stakeholders across the state to enable the state government to have the right security information on a prompt and regular basis, said: “I called you here today not to threaten you but to ask you to work with this administration to tackle insecurity in our various areas of the state.
“We also know that if you understand why we are taking some measures against insecurity, you will be the ones in the best position to communicate this to our people. For instance, if we talk about people working in the mining area, some of our traditional rulers in Oke-Ogun will sign documents for those who need land for mining for peanuts. If we interact on what we desire to do, you can also advise us on the local situation in your areas.
“So, I believe that with this, misunderstanding about some policies of the government will reduce and that is part of why I have called this meeting. You are the ones who see some of these foreigners as they enter Oyo State and you can report when strangers have come in. You can give government information because you know whoever is accommodating strangers.”
Earlier, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III said that state governors should not be blamed for the insecurity within their states. According to him, they are not the ones controlling the security agencies in their states.
He added that all the security agencies in the states are being controlled by the Federal Government as security is in the exclusive list of the Nigeria Constitution.
While advocating the introduction of State Police, the Alaafin of Oyo said that if we do not embrace state police, all the state governments will remain puppets under the Federal Government.
The foremost traditional ruler commended Governor Makinde and other South-West governors for the establishment of Amotekun, saying that the establishment of this security outfit was apt and that it served as a breakthrough.
He said: “I want to say that we traditional rulers and royal fathers are stakeholders in the issue of security. They are killing and raping our sons and daughters in public. They are killing our people as well.
“It is appalling that we still see some of the people we have arrested and handed over to the police on the street gallivanting around. Our governor is doing the right thing but we don’t really have superior power over the constitution guiding us.
“So, when it comes to the issue of insecurity, there is nothing the state government can do if the Federal Government fails to do the needful.
“Now, 70 per cent of our farmers in Ibarapa have left their farmlands. They no longer farm again. If we do not succeed in having state police, the states will continue to be puppets under the Federal Government.
“Your Excellency, you can actually put up a wonderful edifice but the operation of the constitution will not allow you to achieve the goal.”
In his remark, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, who spoke through the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Senator Lekan Balogun, said three groups including the government, security agencies and traditional rulers must collaborate for the security of any state to be guaranteed.
Similarly, the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Mrs Ngozi Onedeko said that the security agencies need intelligence gathering and necessary information from the general public so as to assist them to do an effective job of securing society.