A group of political supporters from all 33 local government areas of Oyo State converged on the Governor’s Office in Ibadan to implore Governor Seyi Makinde to contest for the presidency in 2027.
The supporters, carrying placards with various inscriptions, indicated that Governor Makinde has proven his leadership abilities and would bring transformative governance to Nigeria.
Chairman, Oyo State Supervisory Councilors’ Forum, Mr. Ayodeji Oladepo, vowed to mobilize support for Governor Makinde’s potential presidential bid.
The supporters believe that Makinde’s leadership style would be beneficial to the country.
Responding on behalf of the governor, Deputy Governor Adebayo Lawal commended the supporters for their thoughtfulness.
He affirmed that Governor Makinde is eminently qualified to lead Nigeria noting that he has significantly raised the standard of governance in Oyo State and would, as president, bring similar excellence to national leadership.
Mr Lawal assured the supporters that he would deliver their message to Governor Makinde and expressed optimism that the governor would give their request due consideration.
Acting Inspector General of Police, IGP, Kayode Egbetokun says efforts to recruit additional security personnel into the Nigeria Police Force are ongoing to address the shortage of manpower within the force.
He disclosed this at a 3-day retreat organized by the Police Service Commission for the Committee of Retired Inspectors General of Police in Ibadan.
Oyo State Deputy Governor, Mr Bayo Lawal (l) with the Acting Inspector General of Police, IGP, Kayode Egbetokun (r)
The retreat’s focus is; “Intervention of Ex-Inspectors General of Police for strategic contribution to effective policing In Nigeria”.
The IGP, who highlighted the various strategies implemented for the police force, said the funding difficulties have shown notable improvement with the support of government.
He said: “We are looking forward to a police force that will be well positioned to respond appropriately and adequately to the dynamic of crime and criminality in Nigeria.”
“It is difficult to have such a police force without understanding the multifaceted nature of the challenges that we have. The challenges today are numerous and multifaceted and requested multifaceted the approach to tackle.”
“We cannot be talking of just human security without considering economic and environmental security because they are all interconnected and we need to understand the interconnectedness of these challenges, as attending to human security alone and neglecting the others will not solve the problem.
“Fortunately, we have a government in place led by President Bola Tinubu, who has engendered to improve security agenda for the nation, to look at all these problems and tackle them holistically.”
He also announced the establishment of a Special intervention Squad within the Nigeria Police Force that would revitalize the Police Mobile Force and other units to enhance its role in performing additional security tasks and effective policing.
According to the acting IGP, some officers of the PMF would be mobilised, retrained, kitted, and enumerated specially to make them function like the PMF of those days and will not be deployed to guard duties or VIP escorts as it is today.
He maintained that officers of the squad would be housed and ready for deployment at short notice to any crisis zone in Nigeria.
“We intend to have this squad in every state of the federation but we realized that we might not be able to do it simultaneously.”
“So we have therefore identified some states that we are going to use as pilot states for the scheme but the whole idea is just to have the PMF that we really need,” he explained.
Earlier, the chairman, committee of retired Inspectors-General, Mr Aliyu Attah said the forum became imperative in view of security challenges facing the nation with a view to proffering solutions to the challenges, having navigated the terrain as ex-IGPs.
Ex-IGP Attah who spoke through, Chairman, PSC, Mr Solomon Aranse called for unity of the committee and championing of ethical conduct, professionalism and accountability within the police force, by demanding for excellence in service and an incorruptible police force.
In a presentation on simple analysis of the statutory duties of the Nigeria Police, a resource person, Mr Fimihan Adeoye emphaisised the need to strengthen police divisional headquarters in terms of personnel and equipment for effective policing.
Two out of the retired IGP, Mr. Sunday Ehindero and Mr. Ongbonaya Onovo in an interview said the retreat was fruitful and expressed optimism that the recommendations at the forum would go a long way in tackling security crises confronting Nigeria.
The acting IGP later paid courtesy call on Governor Seyi Makinde where he intimated him with the vision of the Nigeria Police Force and solicited more support for the state police command.
The special committee set up by the Oyo State government to oversee the final burial ceremony of the late Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji has assured residents of Ibadan and guests that would attend the ceremony of adequate security of lives and properties.
The committee, which was headed by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Bayo Lawal was inaugurated on Monday 24th, January 2022 and has among members, political appointees, top government officials, representatives of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), Ibadan Progressive Union (IPU) and family members of the late Olubadan.
According to the statement by Mr Bayo Lawal, Saturday 12th February 2022 has been set aside as a Day of Tributes to celebrate the late Olubadan at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium at Oke-Ado in Ibadan, starting from ten in the morning.
Other activities lined up for the day include prayers for the repose of the soul of the deceased by Christian, Muslim and traditional religious leaders, after which there would be traditional eulogies, tributes by selected personalities and groups.
There will be a documentary on the life and times of the late Olubadan to detail the views of the deceased on Ibadan traditional Chieftaincy law among other interesting issues.
“Let me at this juncture assure all guests, visitors and friends that will be attending, that adequate security is guaranteed before, during and after the event, all security agencies in the State have been alerted and mobilized, including the men of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Oyo State Road Traffic Management Agency (OYRTMA), so as you have effective and free-flow traffic around the venue and adjoining roads within the Oke-Ado and Ring Road/ Liberty Road axis.
“It is, therefore, pertinent to warn trouble makers ad people that do not have anything doing at the event to stay away, as security agents will not hesitate to deal decisively with anyone who conducts themselves in manners that are likely to cause a breach of peace and order.”
The commissioner used the medium to invite great sons and daughters of Ibadanland within Nigeria and in the diaspora to join hands with the State government to ensure a befitting burial is accorded the late monarch.
While appreciating the State governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde for giving the committee the needed support and wherewithal to accomplish the success of the burial, the Committee Chairman enjoined members of the media industry to accord the event the needed publicity.
Oyo State governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde has said that some
commissioners in his cabinet are presently working on palliatives for the
indigents and the most vulnerable in the state to reduce the effect of
Covid-19.
Governor Makinde who stated this during a phone-in segment of a radio programme in Ibadan said the stimulus package is aimed at alleviating the suffering of the less-privileged in the society in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
The governor who noted that the economic stimulus was delayed due to lack
of relevant data, disclosed that he has directed those in charge of the package
to be transparent and accountable.
Governor Makinde, however, appealed to the resident of Oyo state to support the government in its fight against the coronavirus.
He said markets in Oyo state would be reopened and the dusk to dawn curfew be called off as soon as the government receive a favourable report from the state Covid-19 Task Force.
The commissioners working on the palliatives are state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Alhaja Fausat Sanni, her counterpart in the Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Mrs Funmi Orisadeyi and that of Special Duties, Mr Bayo Lawal.
