Amid challenges of security facing the South West, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state, on Sunday, said that governors of the region had resolved to launch a new security architecture by August.
Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Taiwo Adisa, quoted Makinde as stating this resolve at a special thanksgiving service to honour his mother, Mrs Abigail Makinde at St Paul’s Anglican Church, Yemetu, Ibadan, on Sunday.
The statement explained that the resolve of the governors on new security architecture was drawn from a series of meetings held to find lasting solutions to insecurity in the region.
Makinde’s reaction came on the heels of the homily of the officiating clergy, Venerable Samuel Osungbeju, who decried the rising incidences of criminality in the region.
In the same light, Makinde said the state will equally launch a state-wide security system before marking his 100 days in office.
“I and other Governors of the South West, have met on how to launch a new security architecture before the end of August 2019.
“The first 100 days of this government will be on the 5th of September and before the 5th of September, we will launch a new security architecture in Oyo state,” the statement read.
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Sunday’s event also saw Makinde reiterating his commitment to implementing his agenda on Security, Health, Education and Economy.
In particular, he assured of government giving attention to job creation and strengthening the implementation of health and education policies.
Making reverence to the cancellation of the N3,000 education levy hitherto paid by students, Makinde assured that government will ensure judicious application of the improved monthly subvention for the upkeep of schools.
According to him, the government was intent on ensuring the smooth running of schools but will also put in place a monitoring system that would ensure efficiency.
He said that his administration decided to cancel the levies hitherto imposed on students of public schools to allow many indigent students to have access to free education.
On health, Makinde decried the failure of the immediate past administration to monitor the implementation of the monies allocated to the health sector.
“I have visited Adeoyo State Hospital and I will soon be visiting other state hospitals in Igbeti, Saki, Ogbomoso, and Oyo. What I saw at Adeoyo was more of window dressing. The radiography machine has never worked since it was installed.
“It means that the past government spent some money in the health sector but they did not monitor the implementation. If it is only monitoring we can achieve, we would have done well for the health sector in Oyo state.”
In his Sermon, Venerable Samuel Osungbeju, called for love and tolerance among Nigerians adding that people should always show love to other fellow human beings.
“No nation or State can prosper and develop without love among its people,” he said, adding that incessant maiming and killing of innocent citizens across the country called for concerted prayers and divine intervention.
The event was also attended by the wife of Governor Makinde, Tamunominini, a Commissioner-designate, Chief Bayo Lawal, former First lady, Alhaja Mutiat Ladoja among other dignitaries.
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