According to report reaching oyogist.com, Governor of Oyo State, ‘Seyi Makinde, has declared that his administration is busy working on the security architecture of the state to ensure a holistic solution to insecurity challenges being faced by the state.
Governor Makinde, who stated this while declaring close a two-day retreat for Local Government Chairmen, Vice-Chairmen and Heads of Local Government Administrations (HLAs), in the 33 Local Government Councils of the state, held at the Ilaji Hotel and Sports Complex, Akanran, Ibadan, said that his government has, indeed, been working hard to find a lasting solution to the challenges in the all-important sector.
He stated that when ongoing efforts to rework the security system are completed, even the Federal Government will copy the state’s template.
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, though security is the responsibility of everyone in the society, those in government will be held accountable.
He said: “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 area, 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.”
