Security

Prioritize the safety of people – TMC Charges Governor Makinde

By Web News 683

The Muslim Congress, TMC has called on the Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde to take the safety of lives and property as a top priority of his administration. 

This is contained in a statement in Ibadan signed by Coordinator (Waali), TMC, Oyo State, Engineer Daud Oladosu which followed three different crimes that happened between 10th and 12th February 2022 in the state.

The association believed that the major responsibilities of the governments at all levels are first to see to the safety and welfare of her citizenry, “hence, we as concerned stakeholders advise the peace-loving governor of Oyo State,  His Excellency, Engineer Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde to take the bull by the horns in stemming the tides of insecurities in our dear state”.

“The spate of insecurity in Oyo State has become a quagmire that seems to have evaded permanent solution in the recent times. These occurrences led to more than three different crises that have happened within a week in our dear state”. 

The statement listed among other crimes the Idi-Ape bullion van robbery which led to the loss of 4 lives as well as the alleged clash between hoodlums and members of Oyo State Park Management System at Oremeji-Agugu, Ibadan. 

“The lead among the scenarios was that of Idi-Ape bullion van robbery that claimed not less than four lives. Two policemen, a commercial motorcyclist, and Ustaz Mubarak Suleiman, a technocrat-cum-Islamic scholar and a personal aide to the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Osun State, Professor Ganiyu Raji lost their lives in this ignoble incidents. There were dozens of people that sustained varying degrees of injuries at the robbery scene. Some of them are still receiving treatment in different hospitals within Ibadan metropolis without any evidence of welfare attention from the government”.

“Another set of crises brewed up among the hoodlums and the members of Oyo State Park Management System at Oremeji-Agugu which eventually snowballed to that of Soka, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. The two fracases did not come to an end without having claimed two lives in the shootout between warring factions of the commercial transporter unionists”. 

The association suggested different security mechanisms to check the ugly trends of crimes and criminality in the state. 

“The security architecture of the state be reviewed and re-jigged so as to contain the current spate of insecurities in the state. His Excellency should call a security stakeholders’ meeting to ventilate pragmatic ideas on the security of lives and property in the state”.

“Government should bring to book all unscrupulous individuals igniting pockets of violence and insecurity in the state irrespective of political, religious or social affiliations of the individuals”. 

“The government should design a sustainable economic revolution among youths to strategically nip in the bud, the economic problems propelling youths into violence and criminal acts threatening lives and property in the state”.

“As a well-meaning Nigerian and number one citizen of Oyo State, we believe, our governor will pick whatever pragmatic from our recommendations and firm it up with suggestions from other quarters to give us a state worth living in. “Boode o dun, bi igbe ni’luu ri” (Where domestic challenges are overwhelming, it appears life isn’t worth it).” 

TMC commiserated with the Oyo State government and especially the family members left behind by the victims of the crimes and prayed to God to give them the fortitude to bear the irreparable losses. 

Ridwan Fasasi

Religion

Insecurity: Stakeholders Proffer Solutions

By Web News 752

Nigerians have been advised to compliment government efforts towards combating insecurity and creating a nation devoid of fear and apprehension.

 A guest lecturer at the annual state lecture of The Muslim Congress, TMC, Oyo State with the theme “Insecurity and National Unity: The Nation on trial”, Dr. Tajudeen Yusuf of the Department of Acquirial and Management Science, University of Lagos, who gave the advice, explained that citizens are also duty bound to support government and security agents with credible intelligence, advised Nigerians to shun ethnic profiling and unwholesome practices that could trigger hardship in the country.

Another lecturer, who is a Director, Corporate and Public Affairs, Voice of Nigeria, Lagos, Ustaz Abdrasaq Awayewaserere while speaking on ‘Dangers of Disunity and Tribalism maintained that management of fault lines would be difficult in a divided nation, advised government to monitor empowerment programmes and development projects to avoid diversion and ensure that dividends of good governance are enjoyed by citizens.

Earlier in an address, the Waali of Oyo State TMC, Alhaji Daud Oladosu acknowledged infrastructural revolution of President Muhammadu Buhari government and urged Oyo state governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde to sustain his commitment to peace, provision of social amenities and economic well-being of people in the state.

In a keynote address, the deputy governor of Oyo state, Engineer Rauf Olaniyan attributed insecurity to insincerity and poverty, called on Muslims to participate in political process to have fair share of good governance.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Resident Electoral Commissioner in Oyo state, Mr. Mutiu Agboke stressed that good personality reform institutions, enjoined the participants to register and collect 720,767 permanent voters card, PVCs.

The state Commissioner for Special Duties urged women to showcase good virtues of Islam in children upbringing, while calling on Nigerians to use social media for constructive criticism of government policies.

The national Ameer TMC, Alhaji Abdwasi’ Bangbala represented by Dr Abdrazaq Ogunmoye urged security agencies not to relent in their efforts to curb crimes and insecurity and the judiciary to dispense justice for common man.

The executive secretary Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria, MUSWEN, Professor Muslim Yahya and the chief Imam of Ibadanland, Sheikh Abubakr Agbotomokekere harped on the need for unity and adherence to Allah’s injunctions to ensure peace and stability in the country.

The General Officer Commanding 2 Division Nigerian Army, Ojo, Ibadan, represented by the chief Imam of the division, Colonel Aliyu Emekoba described TMC as a patriotic religious organization, and urged Nigerians not to allow foreign nationals from neighbouring countries exploit loopholes across national borders.

Sheriffdeen Nashirdeen