The Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, has charged the Security Architecture in the State, under his watch, to give their very best, so that “they will copy it at the National level in this country”, .
This comes after President Muhammadu Buhari revealed in his exclusive interview with ARISE TV, that he chased back two South-West Governors who had come to seek help from him, at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, concerning the rising insecurity in their States.
Governor Makinde, while declaring close a 2-day Retreat for Local Government Chairmen, Vice Chairmen, and Heads of Local Government Administrations in the 33 Local Government Councils of the State, which held at the Ilaji Hotel and Sports Complex, Akanran, Ibadan, said that his government has indeed, been working hard to find lasting solutions to the security challenges in the State.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, quoted the Governor as expressing delight at the well-packaged Retreat put together by Forsterfield Consulting, in conjunction with the Office of the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, and the Special Adviser on Strategy and Political Matters.
While addressing the Chairmen, Governor Makinde admonished them to step up their game on the issue of security, and take responsibility for the security of their domains, saying that, though security is the responsibility of everyone in the society, those in government will be held accountable.
He equally charged the Chairmen to consider adopting the Security Task Force approach of the State Government, and to hold regular Security meetings and work with the Amotekun, Federal Security Agencies, and the Voluntary Policing Initiative of the State Government.
His words: “There is a State Security Task Force, you can replicate that at the Local Government level. Meet once a week and review. I can bet that by the time we are done grinding our Security Architecture, they will copy it at the National level in this country. So, you should step up to the table and ensure that at each of your Local Government Areas, you take responsibility.
“Yes, it is a collective responsibility. The government alone cannot handle it but somebody will have to hold the rod of accountability and because you are the elected representatives of the people, you have to take responsibility even sometimes for things that are well beyond your control.
“The Amotekun people are there. There are challenges to get them as an agency to work with federal institutions because there is a rivalry. You guys should see it as the time to put all of them together and we have to thrive. Also, we have voluntary policing. You know some of the youths within your localities, get them into the scheme.
“When I went to Igangan, I said we would start funding the hunters and local vigilantes and we made the arrangement. Today, I am glad that the HLAs are here. We are passing through a very challenging period. So, everybody must come together to support that initiative. If we get it right, on a monthly basis, we will ensure that we make provision for them because they are quite important.
“From the report I have on Ibarapa, both open and confidential, it would have been a lot worse if not for local hunters and vigilantes. So, we need to strengthen that network.
“Most important is the issue of intelligence. The failure we got at Igangan was that people saw the bandits converging during the day but nobody reported the case. So, you also need to strengthen intelligence gathering in each of your local government areas.
“The number of the security control room is 615. Call it. When there was an issue at Igangan, I didn’t get the report that anyone called the number. It started at about 11:30 p.m. Call 615 to address any distressing issue. You need to promote the number at the local government level as elected officials. Take it upon yourselves now to ensure that every household is conversant with the 615 number and call it when they are in trouble. Also, encourage your people to say something to you when they see something so you can take the information to appropriate quarters.”
Governor Makinde also charged the Local Government Officials to operate with the fear of God, and put the interest of the people first in all their activities at the Local Councils, maintaining that the people of the State expect good governance and dividends of democracy from the Councils.
While charging the Local Council Officials to consider adopting the 4 Service Point Agenda or Pillars of the State Government, or work on their own based on the peculiarities of the Councils, he said that the State Government will continue to support the Councils to achieve the mandate of delivering quality service to the people at the grassroots.
He added: “I am glad that we are able to organise this retreat. We tried having it when some of you were interim chairmen and chairpersons but the COVID-19 pandemic didn’t give us the opportunity. But today, we thank God that in Oyo State, COVID-19 is taking a back seat. At least, from the reports given to me, there is nobody in the Infectious Disease Centre, which is our isolation centre at Olodo.
“I want to say that the people of Oyo State voted for you and are expecting from you dividends of democracy at the local level. For the state election, most of you joined me to campaign together. So, you have all contributed to putting the government at the state level there.
“This is a good time for us to interact and for me to share one or two things with you. I am sure a lot of you are familiar with our Roadmap for Accelerated Development (2019-2023). We brought out the document before the election and I am happy to tell you that the author of the document, Professor Musbau Babatunde, is also here today. We spent several days and weeks together, knocking the document and it has served us as the blueprint for this administration. We are not going anywhere to seek knowledge on how to govern the state. Take the document anywhere in the world, it is a standard document.
“And for these past two years, it has assisted us. So, at the local government level, my wish is for you to adopt those four pillars. I understand that there could be peculiarities in the local government of some of you. You can add two or more to your own pillars and make it six depending on the peculiarities of your local government area.”
Speaking further, Governor Makinde stated that the agenda of his government to expand the State’s economy through agribusiness and infrastructure development, has been yielding positive results, with a lot of offers coming to the State to assist it.
He said: “We think we are getting stability in the areas of agribusiness and infrastructure. We are still continuing but we can add more, and now, we are saying we should add solid minerals development and Tourism.
“So, for those Local Governments that are positioned to do things in the tourism and solid minerals sectors, the state will be available to support and partner with you.”
More news later…
