The immediate past Yewa South/Ipokia Federal Constituency Representative, Hon. Adekunle Akinlade, has reacted to Governor Dapo Abiodun’s visit to victims of herdsmen attacks in Yewa area of Ogun State.
Akinlade had on Monday morning berated Abiodun over his refusal to visit Yewa North despite reports of repeated killing of villagers and farmers.
The governorship candidate accused Abiodun of lack of preparedness for governance and lack of clear-cut strategy.
He said a Chief Security Officer should be leading from the front, advising that “the CSO of the State should, as a matter of urgency, personally visit the affected villages and farming communities.”
On Monday evening, Abiodun was in the troubled areas to sympathise with the people of Yewa, assuring them of finding a lasting solution to the crises.
Abiodun said he had on Sunday sent a delegation led by two of his Commissioners, other appointees and the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Edward Ajogun, to the area to get details of the killings.
The Governor expressed worry that hardly had the delegation returned to Abeokuta than another set of people were killed by the suspected herdsmen.
In his reaction, Akinlade commended Abiodun and his entourage for visiting the area as he suggested on Monday morning.
According to him, “what is important is that the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of Ogun State reacted positively to his suggestions about visiting the victims and setting up intelligence gathering mechanisms to monitor, amongst other efforts, with the view to repeal any future attack.”
Akinlade, while responding to calls from stakeholders on Monday evening, stated that it does not matter if the actions by Abiodun came late, to him, stressing “something is being done and we must appreciate that fact.”
As members of the ruling party, APC, the former lawmaker insisted that “we must lead and serve our people purposefully.”
A statement signed by his media aide, Azeez Adelani reads:
“Akinlade is confident that the people will be better for it if their interests are placed before petty political gains.
“He further extend his appreciation to all those that visited Oja Odan this evening, the service chiefs, royal fathers and other stakeholders for speaking up and refusing to take the law into their own hands as suggested in some quarters.
“Akinlade says, in conclusion, that he will continue to offer constructive advice and criticism when the need arises.”
