Contrary to what government’s handlers and bootlickers may want to force down the throats of unsuspecting and innocent citizens about the incessant and festering spate of insecurity in the state especially in Ibadan; the reality on ground has transparently shown that in the wake of February 10, 2022 attack on a Bullion Van by armed to the teeth and well-coordinated robbers around Idi Ape area of Ibadan, which claimed four lives and halted vehicular movement for hours; it’s now crystal clear, without any doubt, that now, more than any other moment in recent time, commuters in Ibadan and Oyo state in general now live in palpable apprehension, fear and panic, one that’s a tragic reminder of and akin to NURTW destructive days pre-Abiola Ajimobi era.
Consequently, the ugly turn of events on the safety and security of the people particularly in Ibadan is believed to be receiving a lip service, and treated with kids glove by those in authority and which by the way, is serving the whims and caprices of the political class and their dingbats. Or how best can this incessant, overwhelming and existential threats be described when placed side by side with empty promises and warnings for the government? In part, this sensitive issue has also become a staple in the hands of the political class, which has made it all the more a conversation easily muddled and twisted to advance personal and political interests.
In essence, the very idea that there is fire on the mountain of safety and security in Oyo state when facts are rolled out to challenge a single political narrative becomes easily dismissed and discarded with wave of hand as isolated cases that, in the collective but sentimental story of those in authority, doesn’t hold water and perhaps that, in the real sense of it, hasn’t trickled down to other parts of the state which still enjoys relative peace compare to the scores of security challenges that greeted the first quarters of 2021 when farmers and herders clashes reached a dizzying peak.
Perhaps, given the intricacies, complexity and complicated nature of Ibadan (one of the most notoriously difficult place to govern on earth) and Oyo state in general; one would have thought anyone willing to rule over the state would take the issues around security very seriously by demonstrating boldness and courage in dissociating and tackling the criminal elements in their hideouts head-on.
Quite to the contrary, the series of security threats reported in the last three years across media landscape have shown that a drastic, dramatic and swift turnaround on securing lives, sustaining peace and maintaining stability by this current administration is more myth than fact: partly because people are aware those at the helms of their affairs are like the leopards that won’t easily change their spot — except in the face of imminent danger that may truncate their administration in a jiffy.
For instance, as people now whisper, no amount of outrage from the public force GSM to dump and drop the likes of Mukaila Lamidi, aka Auxiliary and his PMS dare-devil gangs back into the gutter. Similarly, no amount of public pressure can be enough to force government to quickly rebuild police stations razed during #EndSARS protest. In addition, the frosty relationship between men of Nigeria police force, one that became strained during the organic protest, is unlikely to return back to normal. These and many other overarching and lasting interventions are what can restore confidence in government’s ability at handling critical security issue around the state.
No longer are people interested in the terse statements released by the government promising to quick fix and band-aid the bleeding menace of insecurity and bring perpetrators to book. That kind of tactics no longer work nor serve any purpose. In a sense, and to understand why that tactics (shrouded in official statements and strong but empty warning) and will no longer work nor change a dime in people’s psyches, it helps to look at the enormity of indifference, and negligence this government has paid to security, it helps to look at some of the major security threats that have send chill down the spines of the people of Oyo state right from 2019 when this administration first came on board. Plus, this government seems more interested in tackling the hydra-headed monster of insecurity using just the technical approach leaving behind that of adaptive solution.
The various security threats right from the inception of this administration have both been troubling and baffling. In part because the sudden turn of a peaceful and stable state into one of criminals and their nefarious activities appear to raise the level of distrust and suspicion toward the government by the people to sad crescendo. To cite few of those major threats widely reported by the media, it helps to look at the Okeho robbery of August, 2020 which claimed lives and send panic across the town and its neighboring towns. The speedy conclusion and trial of suspects is still out of the knowledge of the people who were traumatized by the incident of that time which also claimed the lives of civilians.
In addition, the Abolongo jailbreak of October, 2021 which also created shock across various correctional centers in the country is yet to be concluded at least, inmates and criminals behind that madness are still at large. In his visit, the Governor promised to install CCTV camera at strategic places in the center then add the facility under the close watch of the state to further forestall future attacks. How much those lofty promises have been kept is known to the public for investigation. Of course, Iwo road has always been the playing ground for the show of brute force and wanton destruction and disruption of normal life around that axis.
The continuous criticism of GSM’s handling of security in Oyo even goes beyond re-election rhetoric or propaganda aim at hoodwinking and belittling the few good points in terms of his administration’s performance. In short, it’s about legacy and what becomes of the life and time of his regime once they are out of office either next year or in the next five years.
OYO101, Muftau Gbadegesin’s opinion on issues affecting Oyo State, is published on Saturdays. He can be reached via muftaugbadegesin@gmail.com and 09065176850.
