Two South-West governors, Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State also as the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, have met separately with President Muhammadu Buhari over insecurity besetting their region.
The two governors’ meeting on Wednesday followed that of the traditional ruler who was hosted by the president in his official residence on Tuesday night.
Addressing State House correspondents after his meeting with the president, Makinde said he came to brief him to make sure that the president has accurate information on the safety situation in Oyo State given the amount of faux reports flying about.
“There has been tons of faux news all around and that i wanted to make certain that the president clearly has first-hand information from me, which I did. We also exchanged ideas on what we’d like to do better, a number of the programs we’ve put in situ to make sure that this security issue is tackled. So, that’s basically why I came here,” he said.
On the precise issues he discussed with the president, the governor said: “Well, one among the problems I discussed with him is that Oyo State landmass is kind of big, Oyo State is on the brink of 29,000 square kilometers. If you’re taking all the states within the southeast geopolitical zone of Nigeria, they’re still not as big as Oyo State. and therefore the state right now only has two Mobile Police Squadrons.
“So, I requested for more Mobile Police Squadrons to be deployed to Oyo State and also invite support for the joint security outfit because the underlying issue here also has got to do with limited opportunities.
“The tension will certainly go down if tons of our youths are gainfully employed. So, I briefed the president on what we do therein regard.”
When asked about his disagreement with the activist, Sunday Igboho, on the ultimatum for Fulanis to go away Oyo State, the governor said: “Well, we’ve a history of cohabitation peacefully among all the ethnic groups that are present in Oyo State.
“For instance, what triggered all of this was that Dr. Aborede was murdered, that’s criminal, but on the opposite hand, Seriki, Alhaji Kabir has been staying therein same place for 40 years.
“So, quite frankly, the people we are after are criminals. they’re the bandits, hoodlums, armed robbers, kidnappers. Those are truth enemy of the state and people are the people we’ll follow .
“The Constitution of Nigeria guarantees that you simply can sleep in any a part of Nigeria, you only need to be law-abiding, obey the local laws in such areas. that’s what we are pushing and can still push as a government.”
When approached, Governor Akeredolu declined to talk to the media on his mission to the presidential villa.
However, after his meeting earlier, the Ooni of Ife told State House correspondents that he came to the president to worry the necessity to not allow the difficulty of insecurity within the country to be politicized.
He admonished that politics should be separated from insecurity so as to not jeopardize the lives of citizens.
He added: “I am here particularly due to all the problems of security threat here and there and to urge the blessing of the president, it won’t end up to be very political because political parties might probably want to hijack it.
“And to the glory of God, as the co-chairman of National Council of Traditional Rulers, it’s our responsibility and our legal duty to form sure that everything is true , all and varied is in fine condition .
“So, the take-home here is that the president has assured that it’s not getting to be a political thing because we all know the matter everywhere the country, we’ve tons of bad eggs that blend across the whole country and that we are having that issue again within the South-West.
“So, i’m here as the co-chairman of National Council of Traditional Rulers to urge the reassurance of the president that either of the parties won’t turn it to be a political funfair for us to only risk the lives of our people, our innocent citizens not only within the South West but the whole country.
“I am happy he has told me that I should assure other traditional rulers that we must work with them now. it’s vital for us to work very closely with the govt in order that we will separate the good, the bad, and therefore the ugly.”
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