State police, reality of the times, says Akeredolu

Ondo State Governor, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has said the call for state police is not for self aggrandisement but a reality of the time.

The Governor, in a statement by his
Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olatunde, condemned the attack on President Muhammadu Buhari’s convoy by bandits in Kastina State on Tuesday, describing the attack as daring.

He spoke on Wednesday while playing host to his former school mates at Loyola College Ibadan (1968/1972) set in his office in Akure.

The Old Boys were led by their acting President, Mr Ayodele Adigun.

The governor lamented the security situation in the country, saying it had gone from bad to worse.

He noted that the country’s security challenges have gone beyond Fulani herdsmen to the menace of bandits and ISWAP.

“We governors in the Southwest met and we are still more than convinced that there is no solution other than state police. The truth is that we will be prepared to protect ourselves and die in the process more than other people from outside. We can only protect ourselves better.

“We will be more committed to protecting ourselves. By the time we have State Police, we will be encouraged to recruit people in a Local Government to work in that Local Government as security.

“For me, state police is not for self aggrandisement. It is a reality of the time. For us in the South and even in the North, I know so many of them that have come to accept that a single command of Police is not good for this country. This country is too big.

“We will continue to make our voice heard everywhere. We are almost there. We are licking our wounds here over the June 5 attack in Owo. It is a serious wound. We will never forget. We are putting together a memorial in a conspicuous place in Owo,” Akeredolu said.