*Say ‘These times shall pass’
Chairman, South West Governors’ Forum and Governor of Ondo State, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), has asked Ibadan residents not to take laws into their hands.
Delivering the official statement of the South West governors following the violence that erupted at Shasha Ibadan in Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State, Governor Akeredolu described what led to the ugly event as avoidable.
According to Akeredolu in the statement he personally signed Saturday night, the South West governors “note with deep concern, the most unfortunate and avoidable orgy of violence in Shasha, Ibadan, the Oyo State Capital.”
The governor said he is compelled to address all residents of the area, especially the Yoruba speaking people, in his capacity as the Chairman, South West Governors’ Forum over the recent happenings bothering on security.
“Without doubt, the situation we have found ourselves as a people is most despicable and contends violently against, and abhorrently at variance with the values and hospitality for which our people are known.
“We have been known for thoroughness. We have identified with legality over the centuries; and our ethos as a civilised breed of people is such that we do not identify with lawlessness, not even illegality,” Governor Akeredolu added.
He also asked residents to be law-abiding, saying he understands “the height of provocation in the light of recent happenings as regards Shasha, Ibadan, I, alongside my other brother governors in the region are against the willful appropriation of Laws into one’s hands.
“We do not support violence and in particular, brigandage, jungle justice and unnecessary self-help. We note with delight, the efforts of our brother Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde of Oyo State who has taken very bold steps to stave off the further escalation of the violence by imposing curfew in the affected areas.
“He deserves every support in his avowed commitment towards peace and security in Oyo State. We shall all survive these times and live peacefully, once again in our lands.”
In the meantime, President Muhammadu Buhari has been told to act fast before the current situation gets beyond control.
An Ibadan politician (name withheld), making this call while reacting to Shasha crisis, on Sunday, wanted action now before it would become too late.
Another source, speaking, said what happened in Ibadan was plan of the same elements wanting to destabilize Nigeria through whatever means possible and asked the President to declare state of emergency in any state of the North where reprisal of killing of Hausa in Ibadan is done, as a way to control the evil agenda of the destabilisation agents.
Although Governor Seyi Makinde has declared indefinite curfew over the incident, some of the people are asking that state of emergency in trouble states should begin with Oyo.
