President Muhammadu Buhari has held separate meetings with Governors Seyi Makinde and Rotimi Akeredolu of Oyo and Ondo states respectively as well as the Ooni of Ife, Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi Ojaja II, over the security situation in the Southwest geo-political zone.
Both Makinde and Akeredole met President Buhari at the State House on Wednesday after Ooni had been hosted on Tuesday night in his official residence.
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The governor of Oyo State, while fielding questions from State House reporters, said his meeting with the President provided an opportunity to present accurate information on the security situation in his State.
“There has been a lot of fake news all around and I wanted to be sure that Mr President clearly has first-hand information from me, which I did.
“We also exchanged ideas on what we need to do better, some of the programmes we have put in place to ensure that this security issue is tackled.
“So, that’s basically why I came here,” he said.
Joint security
Makinde, while speaking on the specific issues he discussed with the President, said: “Well, one of the issues I discussed with Mr President is that Oyo State landmass is quite big, Oyo State is close to 29,000 square kilometres.
“If you take all the states in the south-east geo-political zone of Nigeria, they are still not as big as Oyo State.
“And the state right now only has two Mobile Police Squadrons.
“So, I requested for more Mobile Police Squadrons to be deployed to Oyo State and also ask for support for the joint security outfit because the underlying issue here also has to do with limited opportunities.
“The tension will definitely go down if a lot of our youths are gainfully employed.
“So, I briefed the president on what we are doing in that regard.”
The governor, while reacting to a question on his disagreement with Sunday Igboho on the ultimatum for Fulanis to leave Oyo State, said: “Well, we have a history of living together peacefully among all the ethnic groups that are present in Oyo State.
“For instance, what triggered all of this was that Dr Aborede was brutally murdered, that is criminal, but on the other hand, Seriki, Alhaji Kabir has been staying in that same place for 40 years.
“So, quite frankly, the people we are after are criminals.
“They are the bandits, hoodlums, armed robbers, kidnappers.
“Those are the true enemy of the state and those are the people we will go after.
“The Constitution of Nigeria guarantees that you can live in any part of Nigeria, you just have to be law-abiding, obey the local laws in such areas.
“That is what we are pushing and will continue to push as a government.”
However, Governor Akeredolu refused to speak to journalists before heading to meet with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo who had earlier hosted Makinde.
Ooni: Don’t politicise security
The Ooni of Ife, who said he visited the President to underscore the need to avoid the politicization of insecurity in the country, stated that politics should be separated from insecurity in order not to jeopardize the lives of citizens.
He said: “I am here particularly because of all the issues of security threat here and there and to get the blessing of Mr President, it won’t turn out to be very political because political parties might probably want to hijack it.
“And to the glory of God, as the co-chairman of National Council of Traditional Rulers, it is our responsibility and our fiduciary duty to make sure that everything is right, all and sundry is in good shape.
“So, the take-home here is the President has assured that it is not going to be a political thing because we all know the problem all over the country, we have a lot of bad eggs that mix across the entire country and we are having that issue again in the South West.
“So, I am here as the co-chairman of National Council of Traditional Rulers to get the assurance of Mr President that either of the parties won’t turn it to be a political funfair for us to just risk the lives of our people, our innocent citizens not only in the South West but the entire country.
“I am happy he has told me that I should assure other traditional rulers that we must work with them now.
“It is very important for us to work very closely with the government so that we can separate the good, the bad and the ugly.”
Porous borders
The traditional ruler, who said “the corn should be separated from the chaff”, rued the porosity of nation’s borders.
He, however, expressed hope that the introduction of e-border would make policing the borders more efficient.
The Ooni said: “Even our governors and other political rulers in different states, Mr President has assured that they must work with the traditional rulers so that we can actually separate the good from the bad and get the right society in proper perspective.
“So, here, the objective is politics shouldn’t be mixed with the safety and the security concerns of our people.
“Politics should be completely taken out of it and to the glory of God Mr President said he is fully on board with us as traditional rulers.”
Service Chiefs
The monarch, while speaking on the replacement of service chiefs, described the development as a positive action that would bring fresh ideas to the fight against insecurity.
He said: “It is a very positive coincidence for me.
“It’s a good refreshment, there is new blood, a new intake, fresh ideas will come on board and we have actually given very positive encouragement to Mr President that he should keep it up.
“It is a very courageous move for fresh minds.
“At least, there has been a lot of hue and cry of security issues in Nigeria now, we are not all safe but with what Mr President has done and providentially I am experiencing it at the seat of power, it is a welcome development.
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