From Lateef Dada, Osogbo
The Osun Masterminds (TOM), has expressed fear over the incessant rate of kidnapping, killings, and crimes in Osun State saying the situation is throwing the state into a worrying situation of insecurity and a reign of terror.
The group expressed displeasure over the refusal of authorities to heed its earlier warning and calls to forestall future occurrences of insecurity in the state.
The Executive Director of TOM, Prof. Wasiu Oyedokun-Alli, who spoke at the monthly State of the State address in Osogbo on Tuesday, advised Governor Ademola Adeleke to act immediately to restore confidence and restore the society to its usual peaceful state.
Nothing that it had warned the government in its earlier address, the group said “We made a passionate appeal to Gov. Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke to swing into action, rejig the State’s security architecture and ensure the security of lives and properties.
“It is sad to note that today, we are here again to speak about a persistently rising level of insecurity in our dear State. Just yesterday (Monday) at about 8 pm, citizens of the State going about their legitimate businesses were robbed on the Africa bridge in Osogbo. This being very recent, is a sad reminder to us that the State capital, and the whole state by extension, is now being thrown into a worrying situation of insecurity and a reign of terror.
“We must arrest this situation immediately before the State is plunged into unrest. We again advise the Governor to engage all security agencies in the State, including the state-owned Amotekun Corps, and work out new modalities with them that will ensure the security of lives and properties. The perpetrators of armed robbery, killings, and kidnappings that are fast becoming a regular occurrence in Osun, must be brought to book and quickly too,” TOM stated.
The group also charged Governor Adeleke to probe the billions of naira wasted on Ido-Osun airport by the administration of former Governor Rauf Aregbesola instead of investing another fund in the project.
“We must state that the unprecedented waste of our State’s resources that went into the idea of constructing an Airport in Ido Osun is one that several successive governments must be worried about and possibly probe. A simple Google search would reveal how officials of the Aregbesola government admitted that State funds, running into billions, were spent on constructing the airport. Today, we find nothing of worth on the ground,” TOM added.
The group commended Adeleke for the ongoing road construction in the nine federal constituencies and other welfare projects as well as the completion of the 10km Osogbo-Ikirun-Ilaodo road, advising him to sustain the employment of the 1,500 teachers undertaken by his predecessor, Adegboyega Oyetola.
It also urged the Federal Government to ensure a proper transition process, appealing to the courts to ensure that justice is served in all cases before them.