OYO: There is limit to what govs can do to curb insecurity, says Makinde

GOVERNOR Seyi Makinde has said there is a limit to want he, or any other state governor for that matter, can do to end the growing insecurity in his state.

Makinde said governors across the state of the Federation need the cooperation of the police and other federal security forces to enforce the anti-open grazing law enacted to stop frequent clashes between herdsmen and farmers.

According to a statement issued by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Taiwo Adisa on Monday, Makinde said this when he held an overnight meeting with the Ibarapa people in Igboora.

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 them, 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.”

The governor commiserated with the families that have lost loved ones to the insecurity situation, saying, he felt their pains.

The governor urged residents of Ibarapa, particularly the political office holders, never to hesitate to speak out whenever they discover any security threat.

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.”

The meeting had in attendance the Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon’Debo Ogundoyin, Commissioners, Chairmen and members of Boards and Parastatals, members of the State House of Assembly and all the political appointees from the Ibarapa zone.

The Speaker, who is a scion of the late business mogul and politician, Chief Adeseun Ogundoyin, is from Eruwa in Ibarapa East Local Governments of Oyo State.