7th January, 2022
Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), a Yoruba nationalist organization, has lauded Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State for providing a secured and peaceful environment across the 18 local government areas of the state.
The OPC, led by the Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, commended the governor in a new year message in Akure on Friday, signed by Mr. Nafiu Sarafa, the acting Coordinator of OPC, Ondo State.
Sarafa appreciated the governor for his bold, fearless, and courageous actions taken toward securing the lives and property of residents of Ondo State through the Western Security Network (WSN), Amotekun Corps.
He described Amotekun as the most valuable feat achieved by Akeredolu’s five-year administration.
According to him, OPC is ready to complement the security apparatus in the state in tackling the menace of herdsmen/ farmers clashes, kidnapping, banditry, and other criminal activities.
“In the year under review, it’s very important to identify and salute the rear feat achieved by Gov. Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu in the area of security.
“Especially, during the high point of threat by the withdrawal of all military personnel from all checkpoints and strategic positions across the state.
“In protest, the GOC of 32 Artillery Command, Owena Barracks, went ahead to resign his position as the chairman of the State Security Council.
“But the governor took charge, instructed the Amotekun commandant and the state Commissioner of Police to fill the security gap and restore confidence back to the body polity,” Sarafa noted.
He explained that during the Yuletide, the corps mounted ‘stop and search’ checkpoints at flashpoints and crime-prone areas and junctions across the state.
Sarafa, who said the checkpoints effectively curbed and reduced crimes and criminal activities to their lowest ebb during the just concluded festive periods, commended the security team.
“Another landmark achievement of the Amotekun Corps is the ability to keep the state safe by the adequate implementation of the anti-grazing law signed by the Akeredolu-led administration.
“All these laudable goals were made possible and achievable with the total support, encouragement and enabling environment given to the Amotekun Corps by the visionary governor to secure the people of Ondo State, its environs and their property,” he stated.
Sarafa recalled that the well-organized and coordinated joint patrols, and control points amongst the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Nigerian Police and Amotekun Corps, got the job done.
The acting coordinator, therefore, pledged the readiness of the OPC to support the government in tackling criminalities in the state.