The Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the executive governor of Oyo state, Mr Taiwo Adisa, has clarified the air over the controversy trailing a statement credited to Governor Seyi Makinde while addressing security issues in the state at the peak of the Ibarapa crisis in a statewide broadcast, that the governor statement was not targeted at Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho or any individual as some people from certain quarters have been peddling around.
Mr Adisa, who made this clarification while featuring on a live program at one of Ibadan based private radio stations on Saturday 30th, 2021 monitored by Sunrisebulletin.com, lampooned opposition parties in the state, accusing them of politicizing security issues to confuse unsuspecting members of the public of their political agenda using false propaganda.
Sunrisebulletin.com recalls that governor Seyi Makinde had on 21st of January in a statewide broadcast declared that his administration would not condoned any act of lawlessness from any individual.
“The past few weeks’ events have made it imperative that I address issues that have to do with securitry or our dear state. We can not overlook the fact that there have indeed been instances that cause concern.
“Individuals who are not authorized are going around chasing people from their homes and causing mayhem. This assault on residents of Oyo state is not the way to further the Yoruba cause.
“Letu me state that we shall not sit back and watch anyone make any law abiding resident of Oyo state feel unsafe in their homes, farms, or business places. We are aware of some people circulating flyers and giving people ultimatums to leave their land. This is totally unacceptable and will not be condoned.
“The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), which I swore to defend and protect, guarantees freedom of movement in section 41(1), such that citizens are free to reside in any part of the country without fear. We are determined to preserve that right in Oyo state.” Makinde said.
Earlier in the week, prior to the governor’s broadcast, Sunday Igboho had gone to Ibarapa on the heels of the 7 day quit notice ultimatum which he gave the Fulanis resident in Ibarapa to enforce the threat of evacuating them leading to apprehension in some parts of the state.
Mr Adisa in his statement while speaking on the radio program stressed that the unnecessary tension created in the state in the past couple of days was the handiwork of oppositions who he accused of playing politics with security issues adding that the entire country is grappling with the present security challenge as a result of how the Federal Government under the All Progressives Congress (APC) has poorly handled security matters since inception of their administration.
Mr Adisa stated that Governor Makinde in his entire broadcast never mentioned anybody’s name stressing that it was wrong for anybody or political party to give political undertone to security issues in order to gain cheap political popularity.
The governor’s spokesman maintained that oppositions in the state wanted to place Oyo state in a siege condition and however cautioned that people should stop badmouthing a performing government in a desperate bid to regain power or because they are in the opposition.
Adisa said: “They wanted to place Oyo state under a siege condition, we should think as patriotic citizens and stop badmouthing government in power because you are in the opposition.
“They should as well know that if you want to use evil to ride to power be ready for that same evil to consume you.”
While responding to a question on when Governor Makinde would visit Ibarapa, Adisa explained that there has to be a build up to the governor’s visit which he said is almost completed, so that whatever the governor eventually goes there to say becomes final and binding adding that the 200 officers of Amotekun Corps promised to be deployed to the area to beef up security have already been deployed and fully on ground in Ibarapa.
He however, urged the people of Ibarapa and the entire state not to live or entertain any fear because of mischiefs of opposition in the state noting that Governor Makinde and all security agencies in the state are already on top of the situation.
