Oyo Insecurity: Adebayo Adelabu, What Was Your Strategy? | By Dapo Owolabi

It is a common human phenomenon to juxtapose the present with the past. Especially when the past was better than the present. The security situation in Oyo State has left a lot of it’s residents and investors pondering on how the peace and safety enjoyed just a few years ago is fast becoming a thing of the past.

Recently,  Oyo State has constantly been in the news for insecurity reasons.  Just a few days ago, some hoodlums were on an arson spree around Beere area of Ibadan. Cars were destroyed and houses were burnt. The confidence of these hoodlums have enjoyed such a boost that they were ready for face-offs with security officers.

A bubbling young man recently met his end in the hands of some daredevil armed robbers, who stormed the hotel he was at. The victim of this armed robbers could have been anyone, since a hotel serves as a temporary home and a relaxation spot to lots of people.

Oke Ogun axis is also suffering the loosened grip on security,  farmers and residents no longer have confidence in the ability of the government to protect their lives and property, as seen in the news.

Between 2011- 2019, Oyo State progressed into a business hub, attracting investors because the confidence in the government was restored and improved. People moved around with no fear for their safety, night life business sprung up in different areas of the state. Sadly, this is no longer the case.

It is true that no society exists without pockets of violence,  but the presence of an active and proactive government should curtail budding unrests before they snowball into serious security issues.

Oyo State’s security architecture was perfected and executed through concerted efforts of the former governor, late Sen. Abiola Ajimobi and Oyo State Security Trust Fund (OYSSTF) headed by Chief Adebayo Adelabu. 

Chief Adelabu who resigned his position as Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria to serve the people of his state,  enjoyed tremendous support from late Sen. Abiola Ajimobi in steering the ship of Oyo State Security Trust Fund.

He successfully managed the Oyo State’s Security Trust Fund alongside the Executive Secretary,  Mr Femi Oyedipe, together with the reputable members of the board.

The laudable achievements of the Security Trust Fund under the leadership of Chief Adelabu is quite remarkable,  especially because neither he nor the Executive Secretary at the time; Mr Femi Oyedipe were security experts, yet, they achieved giant strides in security the sector.

Looking through the archives on security,  the achievements of Oyo State Security Trust Fund was all encompassing.  some are listed below:

●Refurbishing of security vehicles for security officers.

●Securing insurance for Security officials

●Light Up Oyo Initiative

●Installation of CCTV cameras at crime hotspots

●Establishment of control room for real time updates from CCTV footage

Among others, these achievements served as an arrowhead of the efficacy of security officers across board in the state. 

Reminiscing on the important roles played by the Security Trust Fund, and ruminating on the present reoccurring issues of insecurity in the state leaves us with so many questions for Chief Adebayo Adelabu.

How did you do it?

How were you able to boost the morale and efficacy of the security officials to ensure that they gave their best?

How were you able to roll out programs that warned miscreants and touts that Oyo State is not a place for them?

What strategy did you use to ensure that issues of kidnapping did not become the order of the day in Oke-Ogun?

Can you tell us how you did it? What was your strategy?

Today, the insecurity issues in the state probes the activities of the present crop of leadership at both the state and the Security Trust Fund,  especially with  a former Commissioner of Police now occupying the office of the Executive Secretary.

It is almost 2 years of this administration, and Oyo State’s residents are beginning  to realise that Chief Adebayo Adelabu should never have been the alternative forgone.

 

 

Dapo Owolabi, sent the piece from Ibadan, Oyo state.