• Attack shocking, say Oba Adetunji, Makinde as gov meets security chiefs
From Oluseye Ojo, Ibadan
Following the invasion of the palace of Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, Aje Ogungunniso I, by yet-to-be identified gunmen, on Monday morning, Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi has convened an emergency security meeting, which was attended by the service chiefs in the state.
Before the commencement of the meeting, the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 11, comprising Oyo, Osun and Ondo states, Mr. Agboola Oshodi-Glover, in company with the state Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Odude, visited Oba Adetunji in his Popoyemoja palace and vowed that the invaders would be arrested and brought to justice.
After the security meeting, Special Adviser to Governor Abiola Ajimobi on Security Matters, Mr. Segun Abolarinwa, as well as Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Toye Arulogun; Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy, Mr. Yomi Layinka; Senior Special Assistant on Print Media, Mr. Wale Sadeeq and a Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Broadcast and Print Media, Mr. Akin Oyedele, briefed the media.
Abolarinwa, who read a prepared text on behalf of the governor, described the attack on the palace of the Olubadan as barbaric, condemnable and unacceptable.
“The suspected hoodlums must have acted on the instructions of some failed politicians who are trying to exploit the traditional institution to stage a comeback and return Oyo state to the inglorious days of violence, brigandage, killings and arson. We shall not allow anyone or group, irrespective of status, religious or political leaning, to take to the days of when Ibadan earned the unenviable tag of a garrison command through the unscrupulous activities of incorrigible elements.
“Meanwhile, we suspect that some opposition political parties and retrogressive individuals must have now found sanctuary in the hallowed palace of the Olubadan to resurrect their faded careers.
“Their plan is to disrupt the peace and tranquility that we have worked hard to enthrone and enjoyed in the last six years.
“Initial security reports suggest that their plan is to unleash terror and make Ibadan ungovernable, especially as the 2019 general elections draw near.”
On his part, Oshodi-Glover told newsmen that security would be beefed up around the palace and “more importantly, those miscreants, who did that will be fished out and will be taken to court for proper justice to take its cause.
“We are going to investigate what happened and no stone would be left unturned. We are also calling on the citizens who saw what happened and who have information to let the police have them towards helping us in getting into the root of all these.”
Meanwhile, Oba Adetunji has said invasion of his palace by gunmen was shocking. He stated this when Oshodi-Glover, visited him.
“I am very happy to welcome you. What the police should do is what you have done. When you heard of security issue in the palace, the first thing was to come as you have done to see things for yourself.
“As a monarch of no mean repute, we are irrevocably committed to the protection of lives and property at all times, and we are irrevocably committed to a collaborative efforts with the Nigeria Police to ensure peace and harmony. What happened on Monday was very shocking, to say the least, because, by choosing to confer minor chieftaincies like Mogaji and Baale on deserving individuals, is within the ambit of the chieftaincy laws. The central figure in that chieftaincy position is the Olubadan. Olubadan-in-Council is just an advisory body, it is not a legal entity.
“Therefore, whether the Olubadan does it or not, it is not questionable…”
Also, a chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party in the state, Seyi Makinde has condemned the Monday attack.
Makinde said as an Ibadan indigene, he had never heard of when an Olubadan’s palace was attacked.
It is only an order of the arm of government that is saddled with the responsibility to challenge the authority of Olubadan in respect of installation is the court, and not anybody or any threat. Anything you need concerning your investigation will be done for you.
“What I want people to know is that whatever anybody does, he does it for himself. Whoever refuses to do the right thing is doing it for himself. Whatever position that we are today, so many people had been there in the past, at a time we have not occupied the position and we did not even know we would get there.
“But today, we are occupying the positions, who knows who will be there tomorrow? The fact that we don’t know who will be there tomorrow should send a note of caution to us that we must be wary of whatever we do with the positions. What will people remember you for when you are no longer on the position? I am using this medium to urge all and sundry to endeavour to do the right thing.”
Also, a chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party in the state,Seyi Makinde has condemned the Monday attack.
Makinde said as an Ibadan indigene, he had never heard of when an Olubadan’s palace was attacked.
In Yoruba land, palaces are sacred places and it is anathema to attack them by any right thinking person.
He said even during Yoruba civil war in the 19th century, Ibadan is known as a power centre and defender of Yoruba territory.
He opined that if a government that prides itself as harbinger of peace in its sixth year of running the state can be caught napping while hoodlums attack a revered palace during a traditional ceremony, such government needs to be challenged on the claimed of billions purportedly spent to maintain law and order.
The recent allegations and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) intervention on the corruption issue that the Oyo APC administration spent over N300 million to fight supposed Boko Haram invasion then becomes more questionable.
He called on people of the state to rise to the occasion because such incident should not be swept under the carpet and demanded for thorough investigation that will bring to justice the perpetrators.
