The Grand Council of Yoruba youths has congratulated Ondo State governor, Rotimi Akeredolu over his victory at last Saturday’s governorship election.
The group in a statement signed by its President-General, Comrade Awa Bamiji, said Akeredolu’s victory can be attributed to his political and administrative skills, coupled with vigorous campaigns spearheaded by the “APC National Campaign Council under the Chairmanship of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State.”
“Wholeheartedly, we say congratulations to Your Excellency, to your Party, the All Progressives’ Congress (APC), to the good People of Ondo State and to the entire South West region,” Awa said.
The group equally appreciate the conducive environment provided by the Federal Government, security operatives, as well as the electoral umpire, INEC, towards achieving peaceful conduct of the election.
“It’s noteworthy to know that your recorded votes surpassed the addition of the votes scored by the first and second runners-up in the election.
“It means, the good people of Ondo State had adequately fuelled the tank of a moving train of advocacy “2023 Yoruba Presidency: Not negotiable,” and we are very sure that Ekiti and Osun 2022 gubernatorial elections would record greater improvements ahead of the 2023 general elections,” the coordinator said.
Awa also stated that the group condemns the “age-long extortion, killings and harassment by the Nigeria Police and call for the urgent take-off of the comprehensive reform of the Nigeria Police to guarantee peace and development in our society, rather than hurriedly announcing a new unit- Special Weapons And Tactics Team (SWAT), as a replacement for the disbanded Special Anti – Robbery Squad (SARS). This is the fear #EndSARS protesters expressed because it seems to be “old wine in a new bottle.”
Awa added: “It is high time the IGP, Mohammed Adamu understood that Nigeria Police System is faulty in its entirety. The suffix of “Force” must be erased from the Nigeria Police Force-Reorientation, Monitoring, Punishment and improved welfare must be given priority.”
He continued: “We frown at the desecration of Oba Jimoh Oyewumi Ajagungbade III, Soun of Ogbomoso’s palace by irate youths and death of Jimoh Isiaka and others occasioned by the bullets.
“While we give a pass mark to the House of Representatives on their proposed compensation for the victims of SARS brutality and extra judicial killings and to the efforts made by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, to get justice for the victims of SARS brutality and extra judicial killings, by setting up a panel of enquiry and trust fund, a thorough investigation of the activities of the hoodlums who turned these peaceful protests to violent outings must be carried out across the affected states of the federation and the FCT, with a view to bringing the perpetriators to book.
“We thank Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, the Hon Minster of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare and other prominent individuals within the state for rallying round Soun of Ogbomoso and the families of the victims of protest in Ogbomoso at this trying time.”
