Oyo Won’t Welcome Errant Herdsmen, Bandits, Others From North — Makinde

Oyo State governor, Engr Seyi Makinde has vowed that the government in the state will not accommodate errant herdsmen, illegal miners as well as criminals and bandits being pushed out of the northern part of the country to seek refuge in the South-West and other areas.

Governor Makinde stated this in his monthly newsletter where he disclosed to holding expanded meeting of the Oyo State Security Council on Thursday to address the security threats.

“One thing is certain, Oyo State will not welcome such criminals. We will push back to ensure that they are flushed out of our State. And so, our deliberation today (Thursday) was about the strategies we will deploy and the roles that we all should be playing to ensure that we continue to keep our dear State safe and secure.

“We must do whatever it takes to protect the relative peace that has helped us grow our State’s GDP by over 50% since 2019,” Governor Makinde said.

Also speaking on the Tuesday declaration of state of emergency by President Bola Tinubu in Rivers State, Makinde said it was necessary to speak up when anything threatens the development of the nation, even if it takes standing alone.

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“As our democracy grows and unfolds, we must also be willing to speak up when we see anything that threatens our development as a nation. We must choose to stand up for what is right, even if it means standing alone.

“This is why I stand today to say that the declaration of the State of Emergency in Rivers State and the suspension of the executive and legislative arms of government by the presidency is an illegality that right-thinking members of society must oppose.

“Our democratic tenets must never be trifled with no matter our personal feelings and loyalties. This is the time to take a stand for fairness, equity and justice. And I am glad that our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is demonstrating the needed strength and leadership,” the Oyo State Governor said.

He recalled that the PDP Governors’ Forum rose from an emergency meeting on Wednesday “where we unanimously decided to challenge the actions of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in a court of competent jurisdiction.” He added, “We cannot fold our hands and watch the democracy we built for almost three decades be trampled upon. The time to act is now!”

LEADERSHIP recalls that the Rivers State governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy and the State House of Assembly were suspended for an initial period of six months by President Tinubu over the political dispute in the state.

Both chambers of the National Assembly ratified the president’s decision through their consent on Thursday at the plenary of the Senate and House of Representatives.