PRESS STATEMENT
Insecurity: Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa Urgent Need To Regig State Owned Security Architecture, Cautions Aides
With the high threat of kidnapping and killings by armed herdsmen in Akure North Local Government of Ondo State, the Independent Newspaper Publishers Association of Nigeria (AINPN) is certainly uncomfortable and worried with the security challenges going on in the State in recent time.
As a stakeholder in the project Ondo State, if we refrain from talking, prosperity won’t forgive us because we owe the people of the State fair and credible reporting without creating unnecessary tension and apprehension.
The event of the past few days in the State has clearly shown that, Ondo State is not as safe as the security heads in the State want us to believe. The report of 20 farmers killed by armed herdsmen which was faulted by the State government and the bodies of five farmers displayed by angry protesters at the Governor’s Office today, Wednesday 19th March should be of concern to everybody in the State.
Governor Aiyedatiwa on his part since assumption of office might have invested a lot in the security of the State but recent security challenges in the State has shown that more need to be done in protecting the lives and property of the people he sworn an oath to protect.
No amount of money is too much to invest in securing and protecting the lives of the people of Ondo State. Enough of rhetoric of government on top of the situation, Mr Governor should be more proactive and take a decisive decision that will replace the lost glory of Ondo State as one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria.
We suggest that, Governor Aiyedatiwa should regig and overhaul the security architecture of the State, giving room for new brains, fresh ideas and new tactics. No doubt the present security heads in the State owned security outfit have tried their best and what the State needs at this crucial time is urgent restoration of peace and safety in Ondo State with the employment of people that have the zeal and flair to deliver.
The security heads and aides should be professionals with experience and not a position to compensate political friends and party. Governor Aiyedatiwa should begin to look at many options on his table on how to restore normalcy in these affected communities and Ondo State. Mr Governor needs a trustworthy security aides that will feed him with rightful information rather than playing politics with lives of innocent people of the State.
Also, for effective security of lives and property, Mr Governor should invest more on the welfare of the security personnel for optimum results, more investment on intelligence, set up joint operations of security personnel, increase in manpower in the Amotekun, embrace modern technology, create Amotekun Security Posts in Red Zones, buy more patrol vehicles and motorcycles, more ammunition and other security gadgets.
Through the use of modern technology, we believe the menace of kidnapping, banditry, killings by these notorious herdsmen and other vices bedeviling our dear State will be drastically reduced within the shortest possible time.
We also urge the governor to caution the unguarded utterances of his aides who are causing more damages to image of the government, rather than showing empathy to the people’s plight, they threw caution into the wind.
Mr Governor, to actualise your “OUR EASE AGENDA” of your government, key is the security of lives and property of the governed. We, as an association and eyes of the society, we shall continue to commend the activities of your government where necessary and also call your attention to where the public believe needs adjustment and corrections.
Long live AINPN
Long Live Ondo State
Long Live Nigeria
E-Signed
Dupson Collins
State Secretary (AINPN)
