Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has again tasked the police to unmask the killers of his Principal Private Secretary, Comrade Olaitan Oyeride, saying if a Governor can’t get justice, the ordinary man has no hope of getting same.
He made the call while receiving the state new Commissioner of Police, Mr Foluso Adebanjo in his office on Wednesday in Benin.
“I cannot pretend, I remain aggrieved and I believe it’s a shame, a national embarrassment that a Governor can’t get justice. If a Governor can’t get justice, what is the hope of a tomato seller, what is the hope of a road-side mechanic, what is the hope of an okada rider?
“The Police will not rest, I will not rest until the Police get the killers of Olaitan,” Comrade Oshiomhole stated.
The governor noted that the police as law enforcement officers must recognise that they have a duty to protect the citizens.
“All of us must recognise that we are trustees of the Nigerian people. We must earn the position that we are privileged to occupy. Anywhere I see a police officer, I will keep saying it, you must produce who killed Olaitan and explain why they bungled the investigations.
“I have said it to the IG, I have said to the President and if I have the opportunity I will say it to the UN’’ he said.
The Governor explained that his insistence that the Police to produce Olaitan’s killers is to entrench the rule of law, noting that “if the rule of law collapses, even men in uniform can’t walk free because those outside uniform are more in numbers.”
“So when they submit to arrest, it’s because in their sub-consciousness, they recognise that the state exists and that the instrument of the state is a responsible police force. So help me tell the IG that I still renew my demand that he has to produce those who killed Olaitan.”
The Governor however noted that the Police is providing invaluable services to the country, saying the failure of a DIG will not stop him from relating with the Police as an institution.
He promised that the state government will rebuild the Auchi Police station and the Area Commander’s office bombed late last year by hoodlums.
He said since assuming office as Governor, he has maintained a mutually beneficial relationship with the Police and other security agencies.
He noted that “there is no doubt that the issue of security is very important. Nigerians expect that poor or rich, in poverty or prosperity, we need security. Security is a precondition for economic prosperity.
“We are never going to attract the level of investors we need or even retain the existing ones if Nigeria is unsafe.”
Earlier, the State’s new commissioner of Police, Mr. Adebanjo assured the Governor that he would work hard to rid the state of criminals.
‘‘I have addressed my men and I made it clear to them that the right of the people must be respected. I will not tolerate any illegal detentions, abuse of office, detention of suspects more than 24 hours except in cases of kidnapping and armed robbery. I’m here to work and I promise you that I will do my best” Adebanjo stated.
