Oyo State government has called upon religious and traditional leaders to play a more proactive role in promoting peaceful coexistence among various faiths in the state with a view to engender harmonious living and social justice.
This appeal comes as stakeholders gather in Ibadan to strategize on charting a new course towards sustainable peace in the state.
The initiative, spearheaded by the Special Assistant on Interfaith Matters to the governor of Oyo state, Reverend Femi Ibikunle, was the grand finale of the statewide tour to the 33 Local Government areas to promote peace and unity among all religions in the state.
The Executive Assistant on Security Matters to the state governor, Retired Commissioner of Police, Sunday Odukoya commended stakeholders for their support and cooperation with the present administration stressing however, that more work still needed to be done.
He emphasized the importance and significance of collective efforts towards a common goal particularly in the present administration’s efforts in maintaining peaceful coexistence and tranquility in the state.
Odukoya highlighted Makinde’s efforts and commitments to security of lives and property of all residents of the state as well as strategies deployed in curbing crime including the creation of Amotekun Corps which has enhanced security architecture as complimentary efforts to the mainstream security agencies in the state.
While noting that government alone could not achieve the desired public peace without the full cooperation and support of stakeholders, he listed some of the measures put in place by the Makinde led government also include procurement of security vehicles and communication gadgets for all the security agencies towards effective policing and communication in the fight against crime and criminality.
Lamenting complicity with criminal elements by some members of various communities, Odukoya described such acts as not only frustrating government’s efforts in its fight against crime but also encourage criminality, warning that such persons if caught, would be made to face the law.
He also lamented how some religious leaders aid criminal elements especially young people with charms and spiritual fortifications to go into crime. He wondered how parents whose children and wards had no prior history of family wealth or long years of work could live in affluence without their parents reprimanding them or reporting such to the authorities.
He noted that cultism has degenerated in the society to even primary school levels due to secret backings they get from some religious leaders who are expected to instill disciplined and expose criminal elements in their various communities.
He also cited the example of criminal elements masquerading as Oodua nation agitators recently invaded the state government Secretariat to perpetrate crime thinking it was a just course, assuring that no perpetrators of crime and their complicits would be spared by the law regardless of their status in the society.
He added that Governor Makinde has expended so much funds in combating crime in the state being one of the pillars upon which his government was built. He explained that such efforts have helped the state flush out criminal elements hibernating inside the forests through effective collaboration with the Nigeria Air For (NAF) and other security agencies.
Odukoya said, Governor Makinde has mandated all the 33 Local Government Executive Chairmen to hold security Council meeting with stakeholders at least twice every month in their various domain noting that the directive was part of the governor’s commitment to lasting peace, security of lives and properties of all residents of the state.
He mentioned the new move by the governor to bring permanent Airforce base to the state in Ajia, Ona-ara local government among other notable efforts geared towards bolstering security of the state, stressing the importance of stakeholders cooperation with the government.
He also disclosed that many residents don’t know that there are cameras all around Ibadan metropolis capturing public activities such that criminal elements can not escape after committing crime, maintaining that such investment exemplifies how critical security means to the governor.
Earlier in his welcome address, Rev Ibikunle expressed the state government readiness to intensify its engagement with local leaders and communities to implement the peace and security initiatives effectively by empowering religious and traditional leaders as agents of peace.
He said one of the key recommendations contained in the communique after the statewide tour is for all the 33 LG Chairmen must constitute an Interfaith Council for mediation, reconciliation and religious harmonization at the grassroots in order to achieve the bottom-top
