SECURING OYO: THE UNRELENTING SEYI MAKINDE AGENDA
SECURING OYO, THE UNRELENTING SEYI MAKINDE AGENDA
“Safety and security don’t just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear.” — Nelson Mandela
The numerous conspicuous developmental strides of the Governor Seyi Makinde (GSM) led administration in Oyo State deserves not just recognition but suffice to say that it might just end up as a M.Sc. thesis in one of our Ivory towers very soon. From infrastructure where over five hundred kilometres of road is either completed or currently under construction across the length and breadth of the entire State, leaving no zone behind, to education where right from the governors inauguration speech on May 29, 2019, basic education became truly free in Oyo State while the dream of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology becoming ours in the pace setter state became a reality within just two years. Primary health care is arguably the most critical foundational rung on the health care delivery ladder, here the GSM government is currently executing an ambitious overhaul project by declaring a state of emergency on Primary Health Centres, renovating existing centres to global standards and constructing nearly one hundred brand new ones to ensure that the whole three hundred and fifty one Wards in the State have at least one standard Primary Health Centre.
This write-up however is focussed on Security.
On June 18, 2020, while just a little over a year in office, Governor Seyi Makinde re-commissioned the expanded Security Control Room and City Watch facilities at the Oyo State Security Trust Fund Headquarters in Ibadan. The new coverage area now stretches to the two toll gate areas, including Lagos-Ibadan express way as well as the Asejire end of the Ibadan-Ife express way.
The ambitious light up Oyo project flagged off in 2020 is yet another effort to ensure criminals don’t have a safe haven in the state, areas covered include selected roads across all the geopolitical zones of Oyo State totalling 223.48 Kilometres. The ambience and massive improvement in commerce that this brilliant project is delivering across cities and towns it currently lights up is also quite conspicuous.
The Guardian Newspaper in their January 20, 2021 publication revealed that according to the statistics forwarded to the governor from the office of the Commissioner of Police, armed robbery cases recorded in Oyo State from 2019 to 2020 were very low. The tabloid quoted a letter signed by an Assistant Commissioner of Police on behalf of the Police Commissioner, stating that the Crime statistics in 2019 indicated a total number of 182 robberies, while 123 were recorded in 2020. According to the report: “Armed robbery appeared to be on a good decline with about 45/50% decline.” The police said the statistics showed that the governor’s efforts to secure Oyo were working.
On Wednesday, 2nd of February, 2022, Governor Seyi Makinde led a high powered delegation from Oyo State comprising his efficient Chief of Staff; Hon Segun Ogunwuyi and the highly experienced State Security committee members inclusive of all security outfit commanders, to collaborate with his Governor colleague from Ogun State, His Excellency Prince Dapo Abiodun MFR. At the auspicious meeting, they jointly stealthily designed security protocols to be engaged by both State governments in a bid to curb criminal activities across their lengthy shared borders. Suffice to say that the maiden joint security meeting was a huge success as shared security challenges were discussed while viable solutions were succinctly brought forward and subsequently adopted.
It is a known fact that the Nigeria Governors Forum keeps demanding for State Police all to no avail but kudos must be given to South Western governors who chose to proceed with ensuring the establishment of the South West Security Network also known as ‘Amotekun’. This they achieved despite all odds with Oyo State setting the pace in actualising this feat. The interagency joint Security project started by the previous administration was also bolstered with the provision of over one hundred brand new trucks for patrol duties while another batch of patrol cars in their hundreds were also branded with the newly launched Oyo State emergency/distress toll-free code (615).
Worthy of note is the fact that as a result of the widespread collapse of security nationwide as evidenced by insurgency in the North East, armed banditry and kidnapping in the North West and (recently) North Central, armed attacks on security outfits in the south East as well as recent high profile armed attacks recorded in neighbouring Osun, Ogun and Kwara States, especially the most recent attacks along the popular Lagos-Ibadan express way, one can almost conclude that it was only a matter of time before Ibadan got served too. Sadly, the clearly isolated incidence of bullion van robbery at Idi-Ape axis on the 10th of February, 2022, happened few meters from a major police formation in the State and the Police have hitherto pledged to bring the criminals involved to justice. May the souls of the departed rest in peace.
Finally, Governor Seyi Makinde also goes on record to be the very first governor who instituted weekly security meetings that is empowered to hold unfailingly with or without the governors’ presence. Monthly joint security meetings are also held in every local government, where traditional rulers and other key stake holders are engaged on securing their communities. Security is our duty, let’s join hands to keep Oyo State safe.
Dayo Ogunbowale is Special Assistant on Communications to Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State.