In his bid to find a lasting solution to the security challenges in Ibarapa Zone of Oyo State, Gov. Seyi Makinde on Sunday, January 31, held an overnight meeting with selected stakeholders; local government chairs; and other political office holders from the zone.
A statement issued on Monday in Ibadan by Mr Taiwo Adisa, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, indicated that the meeting held at Igbo-Ora.
Those who attended the meeting were community leaders; council chairpersons and political office holders from Ibarapa Central, Ibarapa East and Ibarapa North.
According to the statement, Makinde who asserted that the problems of insecurity in Ibarapa land needed to be tackled collectively; stressed that his visit to the zone would enable him to find lasting solutions; to the lingering insecurity issues in the area.
Also Read: Obasanjo confesses knowledge of Yar’Adua’s illness before emergence as President in 2007
The governor informed the people that the his government had approved the setting up of a Peace and Security Committee at the local government level; adding that other security measures to ensure peace in the area would also be put in place.
He also disclosed that the government had directed the immediate take-off of an identity management programme; “to enable it to know who-is-who in the communities.
“For me, the take-home from the interaction is that it is a collective problem and I can see the commitment from everybody to find a solution to this.
“And, at least, I am quite glad that some of the initiatives that the government is trying to put in place to stem insecurity are coming to fruition.
“We will ensure that our identity management programme takes off as quickly as possible. We will also ensure the setting up of peace and security committee that is all-encompassing in the councils,” he said.
The governor also urged political office holders to always call the attention of the government to the happenings within their localities, saying that he decided to sleep over in Ibarapa to feel the pulse of the people.
Makinde, who declared that he felt the pains of the people of the area; and that the problems of the people were his problems; said he could not sleep with his two eyes closed in Ibadan if the people of Ibarapa were unable to sleep with their two eyes closed.
The statement further indicated that Makinde commiserated with families who lost their members to the security crisis in the area.
“This is also to let people know that I feel their pain; because I have had a very close interaction with the late Dr Fatai Aborode.
“I commiserate with his family and many others who have lost loved ones to the situation.
“I feel the pain and I believe that with everybody coming together; we will be able to tackle the problem,” he said.
