The Oyo State government has sworn in no fewer than new 236 Justice of Peace to assist government in the dispensation of justice and maintenance of peace and tranquility in the state.
The Deputy Governor of the state, Chief Moses Adeyemo, the Secretary to the state government, Alhaji Olalekan Alli were sworn in today at the House of Chiefs, Parliament Building, Agodi Secretariat, Ibadan.
Others include : the Chief of Staff, Dr. Gbade Ojo, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Mr. Yomi Layinka, Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Professor Adeniyi Olowofela among other important personalities in the state.
Speaking at the event, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Oluseun Abimbola said the Justices of Peace who are unpaid, render selfless social service while they undertake voluntarily for the sake of craving to be associated with the reign of peace in the community.
Abimbola who noted that Africans don’t learn the methods of keeping peace and maintaining order tasked the new Justices of peace on cultural instinct of communal peace as the government reposes in them.
“One of the hallmarks of this adminstration under the able leadership of the courageous Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, is the restoration and sustenance of peace and tranquility in the state.
“Today’s occasion is therefore a further step in this direction so as to take peace to all the doorsteps in Oyo State through the honest effort of these noble men and women. We are of full conviction that with today’s exercise, this lofty objective of the governor shall be further enhanced”, he charged.
He therefore urged the new JPs to keep themselves fully abreast of their duties and obligations contained in the manual issued to them. According to him, the duties are their operational creed which are meant to serve as guides to them and from which they are expected not to depart from.
The commissioner stressed that the government is committed to enhance their credibility as Justices of the Peace and as a way, the government has concluded arrangement to conduct accurate census of all Justices of peace in the state, so as to sieve the grain from the chaff to prevent unlawful conducts like impersonation, misuse or abuse of powers conferred emphasized.
Corroborating him, the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, Barr. Wasiu Gbadegesin said maintaining of peace is the mainstay of Senator Ajimobi’s administration.
He emphasized that the reputation of the present administration as one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria has spread round the country and abroad as prior to the administration’s coming on board, the state, especially Ibadan was the hot bed of orgies of violence.
He said onward, the new JPs will seek to promote and protect the rights of individuals and give justice to those persons by rendering quasi-judicial service such as preserving peace in the society, suppression of riots and affrays, issuance of search warrant and so on.
