Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has challenged the Federal Government to expedite action on the creation of state police, without any further delay.
He declared that the creation of state police would go a long way to strengthening the security architecture and curbing criminality in the country.
He made the call at the governorship and legislative primary elections of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), held at Watershed Event Centre, Old Ife Road, Ibadan, on Thursday.
Makinde charged the Federal Government to support the state Houses of Assembly to accelerate the process of enacting the required legislation for state police creation.
Makinde, State Police And Security
He stressed that the establishment of state police would improve local intelligence gathering and enhance the capacity of states to respond swiftly and adequately to security threats within their domains.
The governor, again, reassured families and relations of the abducted school pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of the state of their safe return.
He added that, right from the outset of his government, he had made security as one of the major pillars of his administration, adding that it would remain so.
Makinde appreciated the people of Oyo State for supporting his administration over the last seven years.
He noted that the cooperation of the state residents had contributed immensely to the unprecedented achievements recorded by his administration.
He called on the people of the state to extend the same support to the APM governorship candidate, Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi, by voting for him in the 2027 general election.
The governor has been maintaining a low profile in the political scene since the unfortunate abduction of school pupils and their teachers in Oriire Local Government Area, about two weeks ago.
Governor Makinde charged Adekanmbi to chart his own path and build his own relationships, noting that leadership should be driven by vision, unity and service to the people rather than bitterness or division.
Earlier in his welcome address, the state chairman of APM, Otunba Adegbenro Fagbemi, said the partnership between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the APM would yield great result, not just for Oyo State, but the whole country.
Adekanmbi, as well as senatorial, House of Representatives and House of Assembly nominees of the party were presented to the gathering who ratified them as consensus candidates.
Presenting Certificates of Return to all the candidates, the APM chairman described Hon Adekanmbi as a bridge-builder who will continue with the good work started by Governor ‘Seyi Makinde and deliver good governance to the people of the state.
In his acceptance speech, Adekanmbi assured the people of the state that his administration would not derail from the Omituntun vision championed by the current administration.
He promised the people of sustained development in every part of the state, adding that his administration would prioritise residents’ safety.
He called for unity and solidarity among party leaders, stakeholders and supporters, noting that the future of Oyo State must be placed above personal ambitions and political interests.
He noted that the task ahead required collective sacrifice, cooperation and shared commitment towards building a more prosperous and united state for all residents.
Adekanmbi appreciated Governor Makinde for his support, years of friendship, political brotherhood and cooperation.
He added that the contributions and sacrifices of the governor towards the development and democratic growth of Oyo State would remain significant in the history of the state.
In their separate goodwill messages, Chairman, Oyo State Elders’ Council, Dr Saka Balogun, Iba Oluyole, Oloye Nureni Akanbi and Chief Eniade Elejire urged the people of Oyo State to vote massively for all the APM candidates in the 2027 general election.
The event was well attended by top state government officials, as well as well-known political bigwigs who were loyal to Governor Makinde.
