Lagos State
Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Tuesday joined his counterparts in the South
West to renew the call for the creation of State police as one of the major
steps to stem the growing tide of insecurity in the region.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, alongside Governors of Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti
States converged on Ibadan for a Stakeholders’ Security summit on Tuesday with
a resolve to end what they described as unholy invasion of the region by armed
bandits suspected to be from other tribes in the country, thereby causing
security breach and creating unnecessary tension in the relatively peaceful
zone.
The Chief Executives of the six States in the region unanimously agreed to the
creation of State police so as to confront the challenge head on, listing the
benefits inherent in having it.
In his speech, Governor Sanwo-Olu suggested that advocacy be introduced while
State Police be considered to compliment the effort of the Federal Police in
all States of the federation.
“State Police is the way to go. This would give the Chief Security
officers in each of the States the opportunity to direct their affairs and make
them accountable instead of waiting for Federal directives before major actions
could be taken on incidents of banditry, cultism and other heinous crimes.
Controlling one’s police at the State level would help us achieve unhindered
and accelerated response to any criminal activities recorded within our
communities “, he said.
According to him, “the importance of security in human existence cannot be
underestimated which means security is paramount to the existence of all human
beings and no meaningful development could be recorded in the absence of
security.
Sanwo-Olu urged all States Governors in the zone and stakeholders alike to put
all machinery in motion to find a permanent solution to the security lapses,
adding that we should all speak with one voice and remove politics so as to put
a permanent stop to the incessant incursions on our land.
The Governor maintained that no developmental strides could be achieved in the
absence of security, just as he commended the efforts of the DAWN Commission
for the laudable programme.
According to him, “the issue discussed here today coincides with the
deliberations of the governors during a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari
and at the Governors Forum held last week in Abuja”.
He however suggested deep and consistent advocacy amongst our people even as he
called on people from the region to live together and embrace unity as a way to
sustain security and curb invasion.
Also earlier, the Chairman, Southwest Governors Forum, Arakunrin Rotimi
Akeredolu, while declaring open the summit, reiterated that protection of
lives of residents and people of South west is paramount to all the governors,
hence their support for the creation of DAWN Commission.
He said the meeting was the Commission’s effort at creating engagement and
discourse for finding a lasting solution to the security challenges in the
south west.
