*inaugurates Peace Committee
By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
Oyo State Commissioner of Police, CP Adebowale Williams has hinted that the state Police Command is
committed to proffering lasting solutions to evolving security challenges in and across the state.
CP Williams dropped this hint on Tuesday, while speaking at the inauguration of a peace committee initiative to ensure peaceful conduct of the 2023 general elections in the state.
The Commissioner of Police stressed that this will be done through gainful cross-pollination of ideas amongst stakeholders including Traditional and Religious institutions , Political Bigwigs, Members of relevant Sister agencies and the Media.
He emphasized that the command based on available intelligence, is concerned about the extremities and desperation displayed by some political gladiators and their stooge in a bid to enforce needless territorialism and dominance.
“Assertively, Oyo State is undoubtedly the melting point of South-western ancestry, boosting of highly cerebral and sophisticated individuals, known for hospitality,
resourcefulness, and valour. As we navigate towards the general elections, there is the need for repeated emphasis on a peaceful electioneering process before, during and after the exercise”, he said.
CP Williams added, ” hence the emplacement of diverse security inventiveness as a prelude before the eventual signing
of the “Peace Accord”.
“So far, the command based on available intelligence is concerned about the extremities and desperation displayed by some political gladiators and their stooge in a bid to enforce needless territorialism and dominance.”
In his remarks, the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) Administrative Secretary in Oyo State Mr. Abiodun Onikate, said the introduction of Hi-Tech technology has made the use of violence during elections unpopular.
Mr Onikate pointed out that ” no matter what anybody does, the results of every election would not be affected and the outcome would surely be announced”, saying, INEC is prepared to conduct free and fair election next year.
Oyo state NUJ Chairman, Comrade Ademola Babalola while speaking through his Vice Chairman, Comrade Seye Ojo tasked politicians to give peace a chance saying, “Peradventure, it is not your time in 2023, it may be your turn in 2027. So, I enjoin politicians to give peace a chance.
The NUJ Chairman stressed,” then, to the Ibadan Compounds of Chiefs, we appeal to you to support the police in the sustenance of the relative peace in the land. Let us warn our children and wards against being used by politicians to foment troubles before, during and after the elections.
“It is often said in Ibadan that ‘A ki i waye, ka ma ni arun kan lara; ija ‘gboro larun Ibadan’ (One cannot come to the world without a disease; civil disturbance is the disease of Ibadan). This civil disturbance must stop. If you don’t take care of disease, it will take care of you. So, it is the collective efforts of all and sundry to put an end to this disease. Our Mogajis who reside outside their family compounds should please always visit their domains with a view of having full grasp of events happening around them. A stitch in time saves nine.”
Other stakeholders at the summit called on politicians to make their campaign issue-based by not engaging in campaign of calumny and should not make the elections a do-or-die affair.
CP Williams inaugurated the committee comprising of Mogajis (compound heads) and Baale (village heads) across the 11 local government areas of Ibadan.
