LG Crisis: Police Warn As Anxiety Grip Oyo Councils

Oyo State Police Command on Sunday warned politicians that it would not fold its arms and allow the state to relapse into bloodshed.

This followed the eruption of violence across the 33 local governments and 35 local council development areas (LCDAs) over the struggle for the control of local government administration between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressive Congress (APC).

Police Commissioner Shina Olukolu, while recalling the ugly trend, said it was the responsibilities of the police to protect lives and property, which he noted was the hall mark of community policing.

In a statement by spokesman Olugbenga Fadeyi, a Superintendent of Police (SP), the police boss advised stakeholders to sheathe their swords and give peace a chance.

In the statement titled: “Re- local government administration leadership tussle in Oyo state: An appeal for caution against bloodshed”, Olukolu admonished the stakeholders to reach deep and think deep to give peace a chance.

The statement reads: “The Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, Shina Olukolu, wishes to draw the attention of stakeholders in Oyo State to the lingering local government chairmanship tussle and the subtle hint at digging deep by interests and the possible escalation, which may entail destruction of belongings and bloodshed as the ultimate.

“The professional handling of the delicate situation focuses on the constitutional responsibilities of the police i.e. the protection of lives and properties is among others an effort at policing with an understanding of the environment and humanness, which is one of the hallmarks of community policing. It should, therefore, not be taken for granted.

“The stakeholders are, therefore, advised to sheathe their swords and give peace a chance. More so, as the absence of the workers of the local governments in the office will not allow any of the contending interest to achieve any tangible or concrete developments in the prevailing circumstance.

Consequently, chaos, bloodshed, lawlessness and destruction of properties or inflicting injuries on both sides will serve no purpose, but an avoidable loss of purposeful peace and tranquility for the entire peace loving good people of Oyo State.

“A temporary euphoria, a fleeting victory that will not serve any other purpose than a pyrrhic victory that is not enduring and will disappear like the quick sand.

“The commissioner of police therefore wishes to admonish the stakeholders to reach deep and think deep to give peace a chance in Oyo State where social economic development will thrive while giving the police a conducive atmosphere to deal with the common criminals in our midst as the patience of the security agency is not permanently inelastic.

“Hence, economic development, peace and tranquility should remain the focus of the exemplary leaders, sons and daughters of Oyo State, as bloodshed and destruction is an ill-wind that blows no one any good.

“Consequently, the commissioner of police warns all and sundry that the command will not stand by or fold its arms and watch any group or individuals cause chaos, lawlessness and wrought destruction or inflict injuries on the peace loving people of the state, a development that may lead to a breakdown of law and order.

“In spite of the foregoing, the command wishes to reiterate its belief in the capacity, ability and the exemplary leadership qualities of Oyo State sons and daughters to always find a common ground with an enduring solution to their common differences as in the lingering case of chairmanship of local governments.

“The law-abiding citizens are enjoined to go about their lawful businesses without any fear, treat or intimidation from any group or individuals whatsoever.”

Agbarijo Egbe Odo Yoruba (Grand Council of Yoruba Youths), has congratulated and welcomed members of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria

(ALGON), Oyo State chapter, back to their offices after a running battle with Governor Oluseyi Makinde.

It said: “We applaud the legal and peaceful manner of taking over from the illegal Local Government Caretaker Committee members being put in place by Governor Makinde, in defiance to the earlier judgment of the Oyo State High Court, which nullified the illegal dissolution of the duly elected 33 chairmen of the local governments and 35 chairmen of the local council development areas (LCDAs) in Oyo State last year.”