Oyo: Details Of Gov. Makinde’s Visits To Ibarapa Emerge

The Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde on Sunday visited Igbo-Ora in Ibarapa local government following the quit notice issued to Fulani herdsmen by Yoruba activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho.

Recall that the activist had accused some Fulani herdsmen in the community of killing Dr Fatai Aborode and other residents of the community.

Makinde during his visit on Sunday noted that he feels the pain of the people of the community and he visited Ibarapa to find lasting solutions to their security issues.

The spokesman of the governor, Taiwo Adisa, quoted that governor saying this while speaking with council chairpersons and political office holders from Ibarapa Central, Ibarapa East and Ibarapa North, in Igbo Ora, on Sunday.

He further stated that the state government has approved the setting up of Peace and Security Committee at the local government levels.

Makinde added the state government would put in place other security measures to ensure peace in the area.

He also disclosed that the government had directed the immediate take-off of an identity management programme to enable it to know the people in the communities.

He said: “The take-home from the interaction for me is that it is a collective problem and I can see the commitment from everybody to find a solution to this.”

“And, at least, I am quite glad that some of the initiatives that the government is trying to put in place to stem insecurity are coming to fruition.”

“We will ensure that our identity management programme takes off as quickly as possible. We will also ensure the setting up of peace and security committee that is all-encompassing in the councils.”

He also advised politicians to always reach out to government on incidents in their localities, saying that he decided to sleep over in Ibarapa to feel the pulse of the people.

Makinde noted that he can’t sleep peacefully in Ibadan if the people of Ibarapa are unable to sleep with two eyes closed.

He added that the problems of insecurity in Ibarapaland must be tackled collectively.

The statement added that the governor commiserated with the families that have lost loved ones to the insecurity situation, saying: “So, this is also to let people know that I feel their pain because I have had a very close interaction with Aborode in the past. I commiserate with his family and many others who have lost loved ones to this situation.”

“I feel the pain and I believe that with everybody coming together, we will be able to tackle the problem.”

“Also, political office holders need to know that when they see something, they have to say something.”

On the enforcement of anti-open grazing law, the governor described it as an area where the state police would have helped.

He said: “Quite frankly, the governors are at the mercy of federal security agencies to implement certain laws.”

“That was why we asked for state police. In the first instance, it is a constitutional issue and, in the absence of having that, governors in the South West came together and formed Amotekun as a stop-gap.”

“Problems don’t go away completely. But you have to keep working at it; keep pushing to get to where you really want to be and that is what we will keep doing.”

“But the law is there, though the implementation has not been smooth, we will keep working at it.”

On the deployment of additional Amotekun operatives, the governor said: “The 200 Amotekun Corps (members) have been deployed. They are here and we are also supporting them with logistics by bringing four additional operational vehicles for them.”

The meeting had in attendance the Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, ‘Debo Ogundoyin, commissioners, chairmen and members of boards and parastatals, members of the state House of Assembly and all the political appointees from Ibarapa zone.