A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo state, Pastor Oyewale Oyegoke has urged Governor Seyi Makinde to take urgent steps to end the alarming insecurity in the state.
Pastor Oyegoke, who lamented the increasing rate of criminal activities in Oyo state, also implored the governor to put in place modalities that will address the activities of the hoodlums and criminals disrupting the peace of the state.
He made the plea recently while featuring on Fresh FM’s Cross Fire in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital. He described as intolerable, the current wanton destruction of human lives and properties in the state.
The legal practitioner, however urged Governor Makinde to be more proactive and pragmatic in his approach to solving problems , especially security issues.
He said: “I want to emphasize on two Issues, proactiveness and pragmatism.
I want to emphasize that the meaning of proactiveness is taking control of a situation before it happens. Now we have lived in this country for a very long time and we are familiar with Bokoharam insurgency, banditry, cattle rustling and others. I expected when Mr. Governor stepped into the shoe of a big man would be ready or he would have a kind of plan on ground to address all these issues .
“This is not the first time that the issue of insecurity is happening in Oyo state, of course we may not have perfect information here but when we put forward all the circumstantial evidences together, we would see that Mr. Governor has not been proactive enough.
“The pragmatism aspect is that the issues, even when they arise, he has not been responding with practical steps. The governance is so weak , the leadership is so weak, we can see the evidences of a failing state. Now we could have learn from other governors before, we could have even learn from the experiences in Oyo state, these things are not strange.
“I could remember when the one million boys were burning houses here and there in 2015 or 2016 thereabout, Mr. Governor, the late Ajimobi went to the scene , walking round with his entourage talking to the victims, showing empathy for them, that’s pragmatism. Not only that, he launched a lot of security outfits to help himself out and we could see what follow after .
“Governor Seyi Makinde has not led well, he has failed in his leadership, he has failed in the oath of office he took to protect lives and property. He’s the Chief Security Officer of this state and the whole thing has degenerated under his watch”, Oyegoke alleged.
Justifying his submissions, he further observed: “one thing I have noticed is that communication is the life wire of organization’s relationship. When you needed the votes of these people you know how you reached out to them. As a matter of fact, there was a day when we were preparing for election that I got a direct call from him (Governor Makinde), I wouldn’t know how he did it and he called many people as well when he was seeking for votes.
“This time around, he has abandoned these people , he has no local connection with them. I could remember the last two weeks he visited them, some chiefs and Baales wanted to say something , they were telling him that they were coming to see him in camera, that means they have not been talking. And I want to tell you that as a passionate Oyo state citizen on several occasions too I have actually try to communicate Mr. Governor, of course he’s my governor too. I will send him some sensitive information, there’s no day he has acknowledged any of these information .
“The former governor, Ajimobi before he even knew me personally I have also communicated him on several occasions and he will reply. On two to three occasions he has directed people to invite me to his office without even knowing if I’m APC member or not, that is proactiveness. You don’t build fortresses around yourself as a leader, if you think you can protect yourself by building fortresses around yourself, is actually the crowd that are meant to be your protection not the fortresses you are building.
“So in that aspect, he has lost it because he lost direct connection with the people that voted him into power. There could have been a lot of information dropping at his doorstep , especially as a governor because there are several means and mediums through which information reach out to them, but it has not been opened.
“That’s the governor that even said that he couldn’t pick up the call of his mum before the late woman passed on, so we can understand that is his nature and that has to change because we can’t continue to be a snobby, it won’t happen”, he continued.
Oyegoke stressed the need for the state government to strengthen its political will collaboratively with the security agencies to put off the ugly situation before it is too late.
He, thereafter advised the governor to establish a strategic relationship with the police, saying that he ought to have a sense of control over them.
According to him, “Oyo state is a controllable environment and there are somethings you can do within your power in the state as a governor to address the issue of insecurity and we should stop taking alibi that it is national problem. We can separate the national aspect of it, the banditry, and others from the local cultists that are fighting here and there.
“He takes decision (s) so late, and that is what I am talking about proactiveness. Even after the #ENDSARS, what has he done? He went to the IGP and has the Police been effective enough, the police that are shooting his own Amotekun on the leg? There is no relationship and there should be connection. He has not done enough that’s what we are saying. We are only telling him to be proactive and save some lives more.
“You will always need the police , though they are controlled from the federal but you’re the one that is servicing them through some means, and you should have a sense of control.
“So, it is not about I did this and that but a strategic relationship management”, the APC chieftain submitted
