By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
Governor Abiola Ajimobi on Thursday said Oyo State is now a very peaceful state and no longer notorious for violence as it used to be in the past, which earned it the tag of a ‘garrison command’.
The governor stated this while receiving into his office, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Abiodun Odude who led Senior Police Officers from the state command on a visit to the Governor’s Office, Ibadan to inform the governor bout the creation of three additional police commands in the state.
The governor maintained that all the achievements by his administration ” in the areas of commerce, education, culture and tourism, urban renewal as well as provision of standard health services are attributable to good and well-secured environment made possible by our collaboration with the police.’
“We should be more grateful to the police authority in Oyo State, because through them we were able to transform the state from one that was notorious for violence in the past, which earned us the tag of a ‘garrison command’ to a very peaceful state that we are today” he said.
Governor Ajimobi while lauding the Federal government for acceding to the clarion call of the state for the establishment of more police commands in the state, commended the gallantry of the officers and men of the state police command in ridding Oyo state of criminalities, stressing that the reigning peace in the state was the bulwark behind his administration’s major achievements.
He however lamented that it was the present economic situation in the country that resulted in the inability of the Oyo state government to assist the police and other security formations more than he was presently doing in his drive for a near zero crime rate in the state.
“We would have been able to do more towards empowering the police but for the paucity of fund experienced lately. But, we promise to do all we can to maintain peace and make Oyo State the darling of business interests from Nigeria and from abroad.”
Speaking during the visit,Oyo state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Abiodun Odude, declared that the state was one of the most peaceful states in the country,
CP Odude pointed out that the support for the State Police Command by the Governor Ajimobi led administration had assisted the police in maintaining peace, law and order, as well as in taming the band of motor park overlords that had made life hellish for residents until 2011.
“Oyo State is one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria today; and this is not achieved overnight. I can easily say it was achieved through continuous support given by the present administration in the state under Governor Abiola Ajimobi” he said.
CP Odude added that “the administration is sparing no expense in providing logistics supports and all other things needed to get the job done and today we are the best for it. The people are happy for the reign of peace, which has culminated into good business environment for investors.”
“We are also using this opportunity to thank other stakeholders, whose combined support and cooperation has brought relative peace to Oyo State. This peaceful atmosphere has enhanced social life and the economy of the state.”
The CP stessed that the Federal Government had approved the establishment of three new Area Commands in the state to complement the existing ones namely Saki would be headed by an Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr. Abubakar Baba; Eruwa, under the supervision of ACP Sola Oketunji; and Iganna, which will be under the leadership of ACP Dayo Ariyo.”.
