Lanlehin, Makinde trade words over insecurity in Oyo

Police refute report of burnt houses, vehicles

The candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the 2019 governorship election in Oyo State, Olufemi Lanlehin, yesterday, chided Governor Seyi Makinde over insecurity in the state.

In a statement he personally signed, Lanlehin also berated Makinde for upbraiding Chief Sunday Adeyemo (a.k.a. Sunday Igboho,) for defending the people of Ibarapaland.

“I have observed with deep concern the rising wave of insecurity in Oyo State with the increasing cases of murder, armed robberies, kidnappings and all sorts of criminal activities that have now become almost a daily occurrence. It appears Oyo State is descending into the Hobbesian state of nature where life is ‘nasty, brutish and short’.

“From Ibadan to Oyo, Ogbomoso to Oke-Ogun, and then Ibarapa, no where can be labelled safe and peaceful.

“More baffling is Governor Seyi Makinde’s inept handling of the entire situation, particularly his laid-back, reactive and indecisive approach to tackling the most basic of challenges his administration can ever face,” the statement said.

Lanlehin, who accused the governor of trying to be too populist and politically correct, urged him not to be carried away by the euphoria of office, saying: “Let me advise Governor Makinde not to be carried away, neither by the euphoria of office, nor the allure of power, but instead, be guided by deep introspection, wise counsel and an abiding devotion to the protection of the lives and property of people of Oyo State, which he swore to, on inauguration, about two years ago.

But reacting, however, the Chief Press Secretary to Makinde, Taiwo Adisa, said: “People just want to talk to portray Makinde doing nothing. What empathy has Lanlehin himself shown to the people of Oyo State?”

MEANWHILE, Oyo State Police Command has refuted a media report to the effect that over 200 houses were razed and 29 vehicles burnt in a midnight attack in the state.

In a statement yesterday, the command’s Public Relations Officer, Olugbenga Fadeyi, said: “The true position is that no such incident happened and no such number of houses and cars were burnt at Odo-Osun/Ita bale/Aderogba areas of Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

“What really happened was that hoodlums from these areas came out in the early hours of 29/01/2021, in their usual manner, with dangerous weapons to loot shops and set up bonfires. A house and about two shops were looted. But the swift response of Police patrol teams doused tension and the hoodlums were dislodged.”