The Odua Peoples Congress (OPC) has asked Southwest governors to make it part of the region’s security plans.
It said it was well-placed to complement security agencies’ efforts in tackling insecurity. In a statement by its President, Comrade Dare Adesope, the group said its antecedents in providing security were well-known, yet it was excluded from strategic security meetings in the Southwest.
OPC said: “We should be empowered to continue our support of the law enforcement agents. The task of reducing crimes should not be left for the police alone. A combination of police and our organisation will make it easier because we have the antidote to crime.
“I want our governors to know that they have the final say in their states and they will be praised for a brilliant performance or blamed for failure, not the Federal Government.”
The body, which said it had re-branded to OPC Reformed (OPC-R), urged kingmakers to ensure they picked the successors of the Ooni of Ife in Osun State and Elegbeda in Lagos State in a fair manner.
“The kingmakers should be honest in their Ifa consultation to ensure the best candidates are picked. They should not let money be their priority so that they will not pick someone who will bastardise our culture,” the statement said.
The group urged President Muhammadu Buhari to be fair in his appointments and to ensure that no geopolitical zone is neglected.
On Southwest’s development, OPC-R said since Chief Obafemi Awolowo died, the region’s progress had been stalled.
It advocated the return of free education in the Southwest, saying: “If truly knowledge is power, then please give us free education and you will forever be our heroes.”