Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State on Thursday assured the people of the state that the experience of a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and leader of Afenifere group, Chief Olu Falae, in the hands of kidnappers in his farm in Ondo State would not repeat itself in the state.
Makinde gave this assurance while addressing members of Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) and other stakeholders, who were at the Agodi State Secretariat in Ibadan, the state capital.
NAWOJ members were at the secretariat in a peaceful protest march to call attention to the increasing spate of kidnapping and banditry in Nigeria, especially in the Southwest region.
The walk tagged “Walks for Stop The Kidnapping Now” took off from the Mapo Hall before terminating at the Agodi State Secretariat, Ibadan.
The women journalists also used the occasion to present a letter to the governor on their demand for a secured Yoruba states and stoppage of violence against women as well as the implementation of the Child Right Laws in the State.
Makinde, who spoke through his Chief of Staff, Chief Bisi Ilaka, assured that the security of lives and property of the people of Oyo State remains paramount in his mind and would always make it a top priority.
He added that the state government had put all measures in place to preempt and forestall kidnap of high profile individuals as well as all indigenes and residents by holding constant meetings with security stakeholders and leaders of thought in the state.
He said, “Governor Seyi Makinde is a governor that understands his duties and responsibilities as the Chief Security Officer of this state, and I know and speak without any fear of contradiction that he owes the life of every single person in this state sacred and he will not tolerate or allow any pervading insecurity around Southwest to extend to Oyo State.
“I am sure the governor will use his office to champion the cause for a secured Southwest.
“I also know that our father that we all know, Chief Olu Falae who is a leading light in the Afenifere movement also suffered in the hands of these obnoxious individuals who are popping up all over the place. We say to you, we will not allow such to happen in Oyo State.
“I do know that in Oyo State, the incidents are pretty minimal as a result of our unrelenting efforts at stopping the escalation to this side of the Southwest. Areas that have been susceptible or known for kidnap cases in Oyo State before this administration came on board like Oke-Ogun, Ibarapa among others have been concentrated upon.
“Bushes along the roads to these communities have been cleared while patrol by combined security agencies is prevalent.
“The governor will discharge his responsibility in this regard and he will take your message to the right quarters because, in as much as this is a PDP State, we are all Yorubas. This is the Pacesetter State. We lead, others follow.”
