>
The Odua Peoples Congress (OPC) Worldwide has urged Oyo State Governor,Engr Seyi Makinde, to allow the people of the state feel and enjoy good governance, especially in the area of security.
OPC Worldwide president, Aare Prince Osibote, gave the advice at the weekend during a visit to Igangan town over the recent attack by suspected Fulani herdsmen which claimed 11 lives.
According to Osibote, safety of lives and property of residents must be the priority of Makinde’s government, adding that the administration should embrace a new approach in handling the security challenges in the state.
The OPC leader said he believed that the massacre would not have happened if the government had put machinery in place to avert the deadly incident.
While delivering the goodwill message of former governor of Oyo State, Gen. David Jemibewon (rtd), who he said was greatly concerned about the security situation in the state, Osibote said a large number of police operatives have been posted to provide security for important personalities, leaving the police with inadequate number of personnel to tackle insecurity in the larger society.
“They should go and guide the community. Why will you be using tax payers money on only one person, the gun that police are carrying belong to the masses not to protect private individuals,” he said.
in his remarks, the Assistant Secretary of Igangan Development Advocate, Ibrahim Olagoke, said that residents of the town could no longer sleep with their two eyes closed because of fear of attack.
Olagoke stressed that youths are on ground to assist security agencies to forestall breakdown of security in the town.
“We are afraid to go to farm. We are walking with fear both day and night. Oyo State Government has promised to tighten security in Igangan but they are yet to fulfill their promises. We contributed money from our own purse to support and fund the local vigilantes guiding us,” Olagoke said.
Chief Akeem Rasak, who spoke on behalf of Asigangan of Igangan, described Osibote’s visit as a good move that will enhance restoration of peace in the area.
He, however, appealed to the state government to empower the local hunters, noting that people of the town have lost faith in the Police.