Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, Mr Adebola Hamzat has ordered the immediate deployment of Command’s operational, intelligence and tactical assets towards the overall success of the Egungun festivities in the state.
This is contains in a statement signs in Ibadan by the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Adewale Osifeso.
It states that Police Command wishes to inform the general public that it has concluded plans to effectively secure residents and good citizens alike following the “Suspension-lift order” on the Annual Egungun Festivities by the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Senator Lekan Balogun, CFR, Alli Okunmade II.
It states further that residents shall witness high octane patrols, intelligence led stop and search and technology enhanced surveillance duties during the build-up to the commencement of the next phase of the festivities.
It also assures the general public to go about their lawful businesses without fear of harassment or molestation, and warned against breaching the relative tranquility enjoyed in the State by agents of mischief.
The Command further advises Parents, Guardians and leaders of influence in the society to prevail on their Children, Wards and Proteges against being used by criminal elements to disrupt the processions in a bid to create panic and blood-letting as heavy sanctions would be meted out on any one found culpable in accordance with relevant laws.
The Palace of Olubadan of Ibadanland Oba Senator Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II was agog on Wednesday as children, numbering about 500 and their parents within and around the Alarere area of Ibadan trooped to the Palace to meet with Santa Claus, popularly referred to as “Father Christmas” as part of celebrations of this year’s Christmas festivity.
Speaking while receiving the Father Christmas alongside some of the children that paid him a courtesy visit at the carnival-like programme, Oba Balogun rejoiced with the children and their parents for the occasion, the first of such to be celebrated by him as the Olubadan of Ibadanland and counselled the parents to take proper care of their children.
In a press release made available to journalists by his Personal Assistant (Media), Oladele Ogunsola, the monarch, told the parents that they should always be conscious of their responsibilities over their children which are God-ordained.
“I urge our parents to please know that should they fail their children, they have definitely failed God. Give them sound home training as well as western education.”
“Our children are our future. Whatever our achievements or accomplishments in life are, if our children are not the ones to be proud of, we have not achieved or made any accomplishments. I’m happy to receive these children in my palace today as part of this year’s Christmas celebration and I pray that the author of Christmas would preserve these children for us and make them responsible and respectable children in society”, he added.
While congratulating the Christians for this year’s festivity, Olubadan reminded them of the essence of the annual event which he described as an expression of agape love and asked them not to be carried away by the fun-fare always attached to the occasion but to always reflect on its purpose and juxtapose it with their lifestyles towards making necessary amends for the essence of the occasion to be fulfilled.
He also urged them to use the occasion to pray for a peaceful and hitch-free election holding early next year, reminding them that “since this is the only remaining religious festivity preceding the all very crucial elections, we should use the opportunity to take our matter before the creator of heaven and earth and our all-knowing God in whose power alone resides success of the electoral exercise”.
At the occasion, the organizer of the programme, who is also the Palace Chaplain, Pastor Olusoji Adediji said the purpose of organizing the programme was to praise God for upholding the palace since Olubadan came to the throne and to identify with the residents of the Alarere area which presently hosts the palace without laying emphasis on religious differences.
“I must acknowledge the open arms with which Olubadan accepts me and all my activities since he came to the throne not minding his religious background as a Muslim. I must say I’m not in any way surprised because our referred father has never been a religious bigot but an open-minded person all his life and this has in no small way played a very big factor in his peaceful reign so far”, the Chaplain added.
Before the children visited the Father Christmas arena where they received free gifts, there were songs ministration, and prayers for the monarch, his household, Ibadanland, Oyo State and Nigeria in general.
Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Oyo State, Barrister Mutiu Agboke is seeking the assistance of traditional rulers and other critical stakeholders in the polity to sensitize voters to collect the over 700,000 Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVC) awaiting collection at the state office of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
Barrister Agboke made the call during the visit made to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Senator Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II by him and his management team at the Alarere residence of the monarch.
Using the occasion to present the Olubadan with the “Online Voter Registration Steps” poster, the REC said the uncollected PVCs were enough to make somebody the state governor, noting that the total number of votes scored by the two governorship candidates that scored the highest votes in 2019 governorship election was not up to 700,000 votes.
He said the purpose of the visit was to rejoice with Oba Balogun for ascending the throne of his forefathers and to solicit his assistance and cooperation as a respected voice in the community on the need for residents’ active participation in electoral activities.
Aside from the collection of PVC by the residents, the REC also wanted the monarch to help appeal to the various political parties to play the game according to the rules of engagement, saying, ”INEC is doing everything possible to ensure hitch-free elections, but, we need the cooperation of the political parties by adhering to the rules”.
“When the law says no to vote-buying, it is not INEC that goes about with money at the polling centres, the political parties are the ones. We started preparations for the next elections immediately after the 2019 elections and the results of our preparations manifested in the successful conduct of elections in Edo, Kogi, Bayelsa and Anambra States”.
“In addition, we had other bye-elections that were successfully conducted and we are out again to ensure that the 2023 elections are without hiccups of any form, but, we can only achieve this with the support and cooperation of all the stakeholders which formed part of our visit here, Kabiyesi”, the REC stated.
Mr Agboke also told Oba Balogun that the commission would on Monday, next week begin the fourth phase of the Continuous Voter Registration, CVR, which he asked the monarch to help appeal to the residents to take the advantage of by participating in the exercise.
The Olubadan, who in his response assured the REC of the palace’s support for the commission’s programmes urged for enough sensitization of the general populace, asking the commission to be conscious of the political awareness level of the residents.
The monarch equally appealed to both the politicians and the electorate to work towards making Nigeria great by following the political rule, adding, “There’s nothing special about the so-called advanced societies that makes them better than we blacks except that they do things right”.
“Let’s fully participate in all the pre-electoral activities and vote peacefully during elections. Let us collaborate with ourselves and since INEC is ready, we as citizens too should be ready. I appeal to all, let’s see to the greatness of this country by doing things right”, Olubadan added.
