….as ‘Auxiliary’ demand severe punishment for culprits
DEBO ADEOYE,IBADAN
A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress party in Oyo State, ASIWAJU ROTIMI AJANAKU has joined other personalities in the state to condemn unending robbery attacks on the residents of Ibadan, the capital city of Oyo State.
AJANAKU who made the statement in a telephone conversation with Sunrisetimes.com.ng called on the security agencies to intensify efforts in their bid to end the activities of armed robbers and other criminals in the state.
“This issue of armed robbery attacks is very disturbing, it is becoming an embarrassment and must be quickly attended to. we can’t afford to allow innocent citizens that are struggling for survival in the face of economic hardship to face another trauma of losing all they laboured to acquire and in some cases lives” he said.
“Besides, Ibadan is the capital city of Oodua nation, it is not an overstatement to describe Ibadan as the most peaceful and accommodating city in the world; we should make it a participatory effort to defend the city and make it free of all forms of crimes.
AJANAKU refused to agree with the insinuation that the ban placed on the activities of the NURTW in the state by the Governor was responsible for the robbery cases in the state. “It is wrong to blame the governor for his action on NURTW’s activities. The union played into the hands of the governor and he acted accordingly to protect the interest of the people in the state.”he said.
He however advised the Governor to take a decisive step on the matter, he called on traditional rulers and elders in the state to lend their helping hands to the state Government and also cautioned politicians not to see this as an opportunity to cause chaos in the State.
“The state governor should respond positively and bluntly to prove his competency, he should call emergency meeting of the security chiefs, traditional rulers and religious leaders to work out a strategy to stop activities of the men of underworld.”
“I would also like to appeal to politicians and other personalities in the state to ensure that they support the government to secure every area or constituency and council in the state, give their best to protect the people they rely on for votes and they claimed to love.
“You don’t play politics with people’s lives, we should learn to separate politics from sanctity of life and the interest of people. In a situation like this, we should endeavour to put aside politics, or differences between us and the governor to rally support for the protection of our people’s lives and property. I won’t because I belong to opposition party support any activities that would disturb peace and stability in the state.”
“My advice to the Governor on NURTW is to work out how best to check the excesses of the Union; allow their leaders to sign peace accord and state clearly the associated punishment should there be breach of agreement, the governor can then go ahead to lift the ban placed on the Union activities as soon as the agreement is reached possibly this month. Note that a jobless man is prone to all kinds of social vices” AJANAKU concluded.
In a similar development, a civil society organization, IBADAN UNITED LADIES FC FOUNDATION blamed the attacks on the nonchalant attitude towards the girl-child.
Speaking through its Director of Organization, MRS OLUFUNMILAYO BANKOLE, the group said, ” the way our society treats girl-children is unfair and that is what responsible for most of the social vices in our society now. “The girl-child you failed to help today will tomorrow give birth to vagabonds, miscreants, touts that will attack and destroy lives and property, as well as that of the children you spent millions on.”
Meanwhile ALHAJI MUKAILA LAMIDI, popularly known as AUXILIARY in his submission exonerated his group from any act that can disrupt the peace in the state.
According to him” Our people have been out of union’s activities for more than 8 years now, and for those periods they were outside there wasn’t anything of this nature.
“They fend for themselves through other legitimate means of livelihood and that’s what they are living on till date.
“You will agree with me that even despite his hatred for us, former Governor Abiola Ajimobi couldn’t but count it among his achievements that his tenure witnessed peace.
“no one cared to ask him who was responsible for the peace.
“You all know without being partial the suspension of union activists for just six months wouldn’t have forced my loyalists into committing crime.
“Some evil men are somewhere working to destabilize and discredit governor Makinde’s administration. We are ready to join efforts with the good citizens of the state and the state government to fish out bad eggs in the society.” ALHAJI LAMIDI concluded.
