INSECURITY: Obi cautions against reactive approach as Makinde signs executive order restricting ‘okada’

BY ORIAKU IJELE & STEPHEN GBADAMOSI

Presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC, Mr. Peter Obi, has cautioned the Federal Government to stop its reactive response to security breaches, which he believes would be curtailed if government tackles poverty, orchestrated by long years of misgovernance in Nigeria.

In his social media post, he urged the government to also explain the modalities behind the recuitment of 1000 forest guards as directed by President Tinubu in the aftermath of the Oyo schools’ abduction.

His post reads: “In a hasty effort to be perceived as attentive and courageous, it is reported that President Bola Tinubu has approved the recruitment of about 1000 forest guards for Oyo State. This is a further demonstration of poor leadership and attending to very serious governance and security issues with a reactive approach. It is the same reactive approach that led to the sudden removal of fuel subsidy and floating of the Naira that has caused irreparable damage to ordinary Nigerians and the economy.

“While recruiting more security personnel for Oyo state and the country is important, it should be done in a more organised and well-thought-out manner. Presently, almost all the 36 states in Nigeria are experiencing different forms of insecurity, with Oyo, Plateau, Kwara, Kogi, Borno, Katsina, Anambra, Niger, Imo, and Sokoto being very alarming.

“The question, such as the reactive approach of our President, is whether all the states will receive the same approval to recruit 1000 forest guards per state, that is 37, 000 forest guards for the 36 states and Abuja or is the recruitment approval based on the mood of the President?  Moreover, with the approval for Oyo, what will happen to the Amotekun Corps that is trying its best to secure South-West Nigeria? Will they be disbanded in Oyo state?

“The pervasive insecurity we currently have is directly related to the failure of our ecosystem, particularly leadership. It is only failure in leadership that can lead to the death of over 10,000 innocent Nigerians since 2023, and Nigeria is ranked among the top-most terror-affected countries in the world.

“Addressing our insecurity situation requires a holistic or what can be described as an ecosystem approach. With failure in leadership, there is failure in unifying our dear nation, failure in industrialisation, failure in harnessing our abundant resources in agriculture, minerals, tourism, water, sports and even oil and gas to effectively generate required revenue, growth and particularly jobs for our exponentially growing youth population.”

Meanwhile, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has issued an Executive Ordero to contain activities of commercial motorcycle riders in the state.

By the law, the governor ordered the restriction of motorcycle operation to only between 10:30 p.m. and 5:30 a.m., as part of means to arrest insecurity in the state.

Makinde issued Executive Order on the restriction, on Friday, stating that the state government would not relent until the kidnapped teachers and school children returned home safely.

According to him, every day the victims remained in captivity was a painful day for their families and the entire state.

He also gave residents of Oyo State the assurance that efforts were ongoing round the clock to bring back the victims, stressing that the safe return of those abducted remained a tough conversation for his administration.

Makinde added that the victims had neither been forgotten nor abandoned.

“We may not be able to disclose every step being taken because of the sensitive nature of the operations involved; but I ask our people not to mistake our silence for inaction. A great deal of work is being done behind the scenes,” he said