Akeredolu urges council chairmen to set up local vigilantes

Says Amotekun Corps key to security state

ONDO State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has charged the elected chairmen across the 18 local councils of the state to set up vigilante groups as part of efforts to tackle insecurity in the state and rid it of criminal elements.

Akeredolu stated this, yesterday, during a meeting with the council chairmen at the Governor’s Office, Akure, urging them to engage local hunters who can work effectively with the state security network, codenamed Amotekun Corps.

He said that, at least, two vehicles would be provided for the Amotekun Corps in each of the councils as operational vehicles to aid their fight against criminality.

According to him, the

Amotekun Corps is key to effective security of life and property in the state.

He, therefore, urged the chairmen to work with the

Amotekun Corps.

He also approved a regularly monthly meeting with the chairmen as a way or engaging the representatives of the people at the grassroots level.

The governor, who reiterated that party supremacy must be adhered strictly to, said that lack of respect for party supremacy was an invitation to anarchy. He appreciated the council bosses for rejoicing with him on his victory at the poll and his inauguration for a second term in office, stressing that the victory was for all members of the party.

The state chairman of the

Association of Local Governments of Nigeria ( ALGON), Mr. Augustine Oloruntogbe, earlier congratulated the governor on behalf of his colleagues, thanking him for conducting local council election in the state in fulfilment of his electioneering campaign.

Oloruntogbe, who is also the Chairman of Akoko South- West Local Council, assured the governor that they would work with the local hunters and Amotekun Corpsto secure life and property of the citizens.

ABIA State Deputy Governor, Dr. Ude Chukwu, has expressed the state’s worry over constant loss of life and property as a result of boundary skirmishes, asserting that the scenario is no longer acceptable.

He said that despite the state’s peaceful disposition towards boundary issues and compliance with the laws, some states that share boundaries with Abia refused to toe the same line.

Dr. Chukwu, who stated this during a joint sensitisation campaign along Abia and Akwa Ibom boundary yesterday at Army Camp, Ariam in Ikwuano Local

Council, added that Abia neighbours had continued to carry out unprovoked attacks on the state. In attendance at the session were the Abia Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Chief Uche lhediwa; members of the State Boundary Committee, representatives of security agencies, traditional rulers and other stakeholders on boundary matters.

The deputy governor, who is also the chairman of the boundary committee, urged the people of Akwa lbom and other states sharing boundary with Abia to toe the line of peace to save life and property, which he

Mdescribed as precious and sacred.

He commended the National Boundary Commission for its concern and determination to ensure sustenance of law and order along the borders. EANWHILE, Abia indigenes resident in the North, under the auspices of Odinma Abia in 19 Northern States, have condemned Senator Smart Adeyemi over his recent utterances against the Abia governor, Okezie Ikpeazu.

The group said that for Adeyemi to address Ikpeazu as a drunkard showed that he was not schooled enough to be in the Senate.

“In fact, the senator is a square peg in a round hole, and as such should be recalled by his constituents,” the group added.

A statement signed by the secretary of the group, Chief Patrick Lawson; and the chairman, Chief Chikezie Nwaogu; as well as the Patron, who is the Eze Igbo of 19 Northern States, Dr. Pampas Wahiwe, stressed that Adeyemi’s utterances confirmed the claim that he did not win the senatorial seat.

They warned that Adeyemi might be enjoying the immunity offered by the National Assembly, pointing out that he would surely face the law when he is out of office.

EDO State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, yesterday, restated that the ongoing enumeration exercise tagged: Data to Make Edo Great Again ( Data to MEGA) will aid development planning, foster socio- economic development and improve livelihoods of Edo people.

Obaseki said this when Country Director of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation ( UNIDO), Jean Bakole, and his team visited him at Government House, Benin City.

He said: “The enumeration exercise has over 1,200 young men and women, who have been trained to collect data from the people for social interventions and economic planning. Data from Oredo Council Area has already been collected in 20 days.” The governor noted that the data would enable his administration to get adequate and credible data to plan for the people, adding: “This information will help the government to improve the lives of Edo people.” Obaseki, who noted that the COVID- 19 pandemic had plunged more people into poverty, assured Edo people that the data being collected would be used for economic governance as against political governance.

“We realised the importance

Mof data and embarked on this project. To drive industrialisation beyond data, we must utilise mechanisms to be able to analyze and evaluate the data into policies. We must have a system to achieve this,” he stated.

Speaking, Bakole commended the governor for his administration’s policies and programmes aimed at improving the livelihoods of residents and reassured of UNIDO’S support in changing the narrative and transforming the state. EANWHILE, Obaseki assured the state’s selection committee for Federal Government’s

Special Public Works Programme of sufficient structures to enhance effectiveness of the programme.

He said this during a courtesy visit by the selection committee for the Federal Government’s Special Public Works Programme led by Prof. Sam Guobadia at Government House, Benin City.

“I don’t see this programme as a Federal Government programme. I see it as a programme for Nigerians and Edo people. There has to be sacrifice. We have to reduce the amount of bureaucracy that we need to deploy programmes like this,” he said.