The Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, in a little over a year in office, has shown determination cum genuine intention to confront the pervasive insecurity in his Pace setter state.
Aside that he had played host to a couple of meetings on South-west security matter, his approval two days ago of N59.7 million take-off grant for the State Security Network Agency, code-named Operation Amotekun, is further demonstration of his zero-tolerance to black sheep in his territory.
Reports, coming after the state executive council meeting, have it that the fund would procure uniforms, combat boots, lanyard, baseball hats, security belts and worsted socks required to go after the gangs of subversive elements whose mission on earth is to unleash sorrow and spread more of it.
Till this Friday morning, Governor Makinde has not proved to me that he is not mentally fit for his office. His kind approach to governance is an asset which though could be turned to his albatross if he is not vigilant. Yes, N59.7 million is a big, awesome sum in arithmetical term. Talking of reality, however, especially in age when exchange rate is fluid, the amount is not near what will achieve the kind of security he desires.
And my assumption, built on his pedigree as a big player in corporate world, is that he is exposed enough to appreciate the role played by security in development and the role absence of it also plays in failure of government. No transformative governance can be witnessed when law and order are in the hands of banditry.
That is why a section of the public who invested their confidence and hope in President Muhammadu Buhari administration in 2015 are fast retracing their steps and critically reviewing their faith in the government. This group had reasoned that Boko Haram insurgency, which reduced former President Goodluck Jonathan to toothless Commander-In-Chief, would be promptly suppressed by Buhari, a military general with track record in warfare.
Disappointingly, the wishes of this group were not horses, Boko Haram seems to be enjoying a renewed gut to even open fire on convoy of a state governor to send a strong message to Abuja that they remain indomitable despite huge amount of fund so far sunk into military operations.
While the Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum refused to link the attack on him at Baga town on July 29 to Boko Haram militants, the incident, however, is evidence of anarchic state of that part of the country.
I want to believe that Governor Makinde’s appointment of two retired soldiers-General Kunle Togun and Colonel Bisiriyu Olayinka as chairman and commandant, respectively of the Amotekun corps is not one of those appointments to seek or lubricate political patronage or satisfy zoning formula.
I want to believe he has gone through the profile of the duo and seen how they rose to elite position before their retirement. I want to believe he will therefore listen to their advice. If he listens to their advice, he will understand the need to not make the N59.7 million a one-off thing because sustenance of security apparel is very, very expensive.
If (God forbid) Amotekun becomes another security agency which would inevitably go and prostrate before those it should put under surveillance for fund for fuel and maintenance of operational vehicles among other starvation, then reign of anarchy will take over and topple the government of Makinde in 2023 elections. Good morning.
