The Oke-Ogun Council of Elders OCE has called on all security operatives to form a synergy towards putting an end to the renewed form of criminal activities in Oke-Ogun.
This position was made known on Thursday 11th of May, 2023 during the first annual meeting of the Oke-Ogun Council of Elders held at the residence of the President, Otunba Bamidele Dada OON in Ibadan and monitored by ODUDUWA NEWS.
The call came following the renewed banditry attacks and ravaging kidnapping in some parts of Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State.
The meeting which played a host to the chairman of all Local Government chairmen in Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State, Mr. Jeleel Oyinloye had several dignitaries in attendance.
The President of the Council, Otunba Bamidele Dada OON, while giving his opening remark, admonished all members to prioritize the security of the people of Oke-Ogun by making sure that all hands are on deck towards mitigating the menace of banditry, kidnapping and other social vices.
He decried the high rate of unemployment, saying the root cause of criminal activities could be linked to the high rate of unemployed youths who take to criminal activities when they are not properly engaged.
The erstwhile Minister of State for Agriculture, Otunba Bamidele Dada OON established a strong nexus between socioeconomic problems and criminal activities and called on all stakeholders to brace up and confront the challenges headlong.
In his words, Prof. Layi Egunjobi while speaking, gave a report of the Committee on Education constituted to oversee the establishment of Community-based University in Oke-Ogun. He hinted on the challenges confronting the committee and proffered solutions to mitigate the challenges.
He also discussed the already-passed bill for the creation of Federal University of Agriculture in Oke-Ogun, saying the delay for the establishment rests on the table of the outgoing President of Nigeria, General Muhammadu Buhari who has refused to assent the bill since its passage by the National Assembly.
The meeting however resolved that there is need for drastic and urgent steps to be taken by all stakeholders in Oke-Ogun towards making sure that the bill is assented to before the lapse of tenure of the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Oke-Ogun Council of Elders also discussed road map for the development of Oke-Ogun.
In his words, Mr. Jeleel Oyinloye who is the incumbent Chairman of Iwajowa Local Government doubled as the Chairman of all Local Government Chairmen in Oke-Ogun while speaking at the event discussed some of the steps taken by council heads to ensure that menace of criminal activities is nipped at the bud.
He used the occasion to clarify erroneous belief by some people that the N10million security fund allocated to them is usually embezzled. He highlighted how various councils spend the money after the disbursement, claiming that the money is usually disbursed to all stakeholders in the community including traditional rulers, local hunters and others to maintain peace and tranquillity within their various communities.
Some members who also spoke at the gathering commended Governor Seyi Makinde for his development strides in Oke-Ogun, they highlighted some of his achievements in Oke-Ogun and also charged him not to relent in spreading development across Oyo State.
They also condemned renewed attacks by the criminal gangs and appealed to the local government chairmen in Oke-Ogun and other political functionaries to do everything possible to ensure collaborative efforts between local hunters, Amotekun and the conventional security apparatus.
Among those who graced the occasion were the President of the Council and ex-Minister of Agriculture, Otunba Bamidele Dada OON, Prof. Layi Egunjobi, ACP V.O. Ladigbolu, Iwajowa Council Chairman, Mr. Jeleel Oyinloye, among several others.