Gbenro Adesina
The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, has held the Federal Government responsible for insecurity in Nigeria, wondered why the federal government has refused to decentralised police system in the country.
Oba Adeyemi, who called for immediate approval of state police in Nigeria noted “We do not embrace state police, all the state governments will remain puppets under the Federal Government”.
He condemned the centralisation of all the security agencies in the country saying that police are being controlled by the Federal Government, as security is in the exclusive list of the Nigeria Constitution.
Sharing his thought over the security architecture in the country during a meeting with traditional rulers and security agencies, held at the House of Chiefs, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, the foremost monarch said that state governors should not be blamed for the insecurity within their states as they are not the ones controlling the security agencies in their states.
The monarch specifically explained that Governor Seyi Makinde could not be blamed for the present insecurity in the state, as he maintained that the present administration in the state has been working day and night to curb insecurity in all the length and breadth of the state.
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.
“If our governor orders Police to carry out an assignment and another order comes from the FG, definitely nothing will be done. So, don’t let us deceive ourselves. Even our governor cannot command the Army and he has no power over it. 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”, he pointed out.
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.
Speaking, Governor Makinde 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.
He 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 could only be sustained if there is adequate security.
He added that the government would collaborate with traditional rulers to improve the security of the state, adding that intelligence gathering would not succeed without getting closer to the people, especially the royal fathers.
His words, “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 because 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”, he added.
The governor equally explained that the state’s Security Task Force was set up as a matter of emergency to address the various security challenges and ensure that the state is always on top of security situation.
He added that the committee would regularly link up with traditional rulers and stakeholders across all local government areas to have requisite information on happenings across localities.
On the issue of voluntary policing, he said, “With the approach of voluntary policing, all non-state actors can also be reined-in and we need your support to achieve that. If you know some stubborn youths around your areas, they should go after the criminals”, adding that the state government has directed that in all local government areas in the state, there must be security meetings at least twice a month”.
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