Ogun killings: Akinlade rebukes Abiodun, accuses him of unpreparedness

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ogun State, Hon. Adekunle Akinlade, has advised Governor Dapo Abiodun on what he should do to put an end to the killing of his kinsmen by suspected Fulani herders in Yewa.

Akinlade, who is the Ogun governorship candidate of the APM and closest rival to Abiodun, alleged that “the continued spate of killings across Ogun West, be it by men of the Nigeria Customs Service, bandits or criminal herdsmen is evident of lack of preparedness for governance and lack of clear cut strategy on the part of the current Chief Security Officer of the State.”

In his advice to the governor, the Ogun West-born former House of Representatives member, said, “In my modest opinion, the CSO of the State should, as a matter of urgency, personally visit the affected villages and farming communities, commission the deployment of at least 50 high frequency aerial surveillance drones with night/infrared capabilities across those communities.”

Akinlade added that the government should “request from relevant Federal Authorities, the deployment of a joint task force security patrol comprising the armed forces and police.”

He suggested setting up surveillance hubs in the areas to provide the much needed intelligence for the security outfits to stop the continuous loss of innocent lives.

According to him, “it is common knowledge that the cheapest and most efficient way to manage insecurity is to deploy deterrent mechanisms such as security tech hubs, communal intelligence gathering and leading from the front.”

While saying the primary responsibility of governance is the protection of lives and properties of the governed, Akinlade said, “enough of condemnations, it is time to act!”

The agro-entrepreneur also described as grossly irresponsible, a statement credited to Lagos West Senator Solomon Adeola, whom he accused of making an inflammatory statement over a matter that has claimed scores of lives across Ogun West.

“The Senator representing Lagos West was said to have insinuated that he was ready to join his ‘adopted kinsmen’ to take up arms in self defence.

“Truth be told, it is clear that the Lagos-born federal lawmaker lacks depth on current matters of security confronting our people at this point in time.

“Although, we are members of the same party, APC, we share diverse views on how the security of our dear state should be handled,” Akinlade said in a statement made available to DAILY POST by his media aide, Azeez Adelani, on Monday.

He further emphasised that “it was disheartening to see an Imeko-born political appointee under the present administration join the bandwagon of ‘social media condemnation’, rather than advise the CSO of the State with whom he has unfettered access on how to reverse this ugly tread confronting our people on a daily basis.”

Meanwhile, the Ipokia indigene expressed his heartfelt condolences to the families of all those who have lost loved ones, while assuring them that “this governmental negligence will soon end.”