Stop attacking NPC officials: Olubadan warns, as ‘area boys’ molest enumerators on trial census

By; Bayo Akamo, Ibadan.
The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji Monday warned ‘areas boys’ in Ibadan to stop attacking officials of the National Population Commission (NPC) in the on going trial census.
Already, Oyo State Director of National Population Commission (NPC), Mr Olajire Balogun has raised the alarm of alleged threat to the life of the commission’s officials from the ‘area boys’ and residents in the ongoing demarcation in some parts of the city.
The NPC Director while raising the alarm, declared that the attack and threat to the life of NPC officials would continue to hamper their work especially for the remaining few days of the exercise.
He maintained that NPC needed the co-operation of the entire community leaders as well as residents in the councils already penciled down for the trial census for the exercise to be a complete success.
Speaking through the Otun Olubadan, High Chief Lekan Balogun after the monthly meeting of the Olubadan-in-Council held at his Popoyemoja, Ibadan Palace, Oba Adetunji frowned at the said attack and threat.
The Olubadan also condemned the alleged demand by some Ibadan residents from the commission’s officials “what gifts they had brought for them” before they could be enumerated.
While calling for the total cooperation from all and sundry for a hitch-free exercise, the royal father said,”some of the residents were also running away from the commission’s field officers and not obliging them with answers to questions directed at them by the NPC officials.
“I hope it is not true. They have no right asking for money or anything for them to be counted. The idea of head count is to ensure that government can provide for all the people in the country and facilities that may be needed. So, if the idea is to help in providing these, how would they be attacking those who are carrying out the exercise. I hope it is not true.”
Oba Adetunji urged the people of Ibadan “to cooperate with the NPC officials in the interest of the citizens well being and promote the understanding of the population of our country.”