Following the attack on the Popoyemoja Palace of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi Tuesday summoned an emergency meeting of the state security council to address the matter to address the matter.
The meeting which had in attendance, the General Officer Commanding, 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Ibadan; Commissioner of Police at the state command; Director of Department of State Services; State Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and heads of other security agencies in the state.
But, The Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 11, Mr. Agboola Oshodi-Glover, earlier in the day vowed that the five gunmen who shot sporadically at the palace of the Olubadan, during the installation of Baales (village heads) will soon be fished out and taken to court for proper justice.
The Police boss who is in charge of Oyo, Osun and Ondo States also assured that security will be beefed up around the palace.
Oshodi-Glover spoke Tuesday while playing a courtesy visit on the Olubadan in company of the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Mr Abiodun Odude and other top police officers in the Zone in respect of the shooting incident.
Acknowledging that the security operatives never got a hint on the planned attacked pointing out that, having the information would have helped the security operatives to keep the attackers off. He added that, with the incident, the police will investigate the matter thoroughly and leave no stone unturned.
He said: “Definitely, security will be beefed up around the palace and more importantly, those miscreants who did that will be fished out and will be taken to court for proper justice to take its cause.
“I don’t know any news behind the news on this matter. But we are going to investigate what happened. If we knew the news behind the news, the gunmen would not even get close to the palace. Now that we have known, we would do everything possible and no stone would be left unturned.
While assuring the people of the state that the police is high on alert to ensure the safety of lives and property, the police boss appealed to the people who have information on the identity of the unidentified gunmen to make same available to the police so as to fast track getting to the root of the matter.
“The policemen are on high alert and citizens should be rest assured that they are safe. We are also calling on the citizens, who saw what happened and who have information to let the police have them towards helping us in getting into the root of all these.
“The steps the police are taking will make all and sundry to be happy. The Yoruba tradition must be respected and respect must be accorded to the people and institutions that deserve it. The hoodlums are hereby warned to desist from unruly behaviour. Those that perpetrated the invasion, we are going to make sure that we get them”, Oshodi-Glover assured.
Addressing the visitor, the monarch who expresses happiness at the visit and the decision of the police boss to do on the spot assessment of the situation.
Oba Adetunji, who described the Monday incident as shocking maintained that his decision to install the minor chiefs was within the ambit of the chieftaincy laws pointing out that the arm of government that is saddled with the responsibility to challenge the authority of Olubadan in respect of installation is the court, and not anybody or any threat from anyone whosoever.
While assuring that the Palace will make available anything or information needed by the police during its investigation, the monarch maintained that the central figure in the Olubadan chieftaincy position is the Olubadan himself as the Olubadan-in-Council is just an advisory body and not a legal entity.
Olubadan said, “I am very happy to welcome you. What the police should do is what you have done. When you heard of security issue in the palace, the first thing us to come as you have done to see things for yourself.
“As a monarch of no mean repute, we are irrevocably committed to the protection of lives and property at all times, and we are irrevocably committed to a collaborative effort with the Nigeria Police Force to ensure peace and harmony.
“What happened on Monday was very shocking, to say the least, because by choosing to confer minor chieftaincies like Mogaji and Baale on deserving individuals, is within the ambit of the chieftaincy laws. The central figure in that chieftaincy position is the Olubadan. Olubadan-in-Council is just an advisory body, it is not a legal entity.
“Therefore, whether the Olubadan does it or not, it is not questionable. The arm of government that is saddled with the responsibility to challenge the authority of Olubadan in respect of installation is the court, and not anybody or any threat from anyone. Anything you need concerning your investigation will be done for you.
“What I want people to know is that whatever anybody does, he does it for himself. Whoever refuses to do the right thing is doing it for himself. Whatever position that we are today, so many people had been there in the past, at a time we have not occupied the position and we did not even know we would get there.
“But today, we are occupying the positions, who knows who will be there tomorrow? The fact that we don’t know who will be there tomorrow should send a note of caution to us that we must be wary of whatever we do with the positions. What will people remember you for when you are no longer on the position? I am using this medium to urge all and sundry to endeavour to do the right thing.”
Addressing the press after the State Exco Security Council meeting, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Mr. Segun Abolarinwa condemned the attack on the palace of the foremost monarch, describing it as barbaric, condemnable and unacceptable, noting that the suspected hoodlums must have acted on the instructions of some failed politicians who are trying to exploit the traditional institution to stage a comeback and return Oyo State to the inglorious days of violence, brigandage, killings and arson.
The briefing also had in attendance, the Commissioner of Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Toye Arulogun, the Governors Special Adviser on communication and Strategy, Mr. Yomi Layinka, the Senior Special Assistance to the Governor on Print Media, Mr. Wale Sadeeq and a Senior Special Assistance to the Governor on Broadcast and Print Media, Mr. Akin Oyedele.
Assuring that, the government shall not allow anyone or group, irrespective of status, religious or political leaning, to take the state back to the days of when Ibadan earned the uneviable tag of a garrison command through the unscrupulous activities of incorrigible elements, Abolarinwa recalled that the government had warned during the installation ceremony of the 21 obas on August 27 that the Olubadan’s palace and the revered traditional institution risk being used as staging post for the nefarious activities of failed politicians.
He said: “The attack on the palace of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, His imperial Majesty, Oba Saliu Adetunji, by gunmen on Monday is barbaric, condemnable and unacceptable. The suspected hoodlums must have acted on the instructions of some failed politicians who are trying to exploit the traditional institution to stage a comeback and return Oyo State to the inglorious days of violence, brigandage, killings and arson.
“We shall not allow anyone or group, irrespective of status, religious or political leaning, to take to the days of when Ibadan earned the uneviable tag of a garrison command through the unscrupulous activities of incorrigible elements. I had warned during the installation ceremony of our obas on August 27 that the Olubadan palace and our revered traditional institution risk being used as staging post for the nefarious activities of failed politicians.
“Meanwhile, we suspect that some opposition political parties and retrogressive individuals must have now found sanctuary in the hallowed palace of the Olubadan to resurrect their faded careers. Their plan is to disrupt the peace and tranquility that we have worked hard to enthrone and enjoyed in the last six years.
“Initial security reports suggests that their plan is to unleash terror and make Ibadan ungovernable, especially as the 2019 general elections draw near. For the avoidance of doubt, the government wishes to reiterate that it will not renege on its commitment to the security of lives and property which has remained our credential in the last six years.
“We, therefore warn that anyone seeking to tear our resolve through any attempt at jeopardizing the peace of the land should be ready to face the waterloo because I can assure them that the full weight of the law will be visited on them. My appeal to our Baba, the Kabiyesi, is to be wary of the antics of those who may wish to exploit his warmness and accommodating posturing to foment trouble. A word is enough for the wise.”
Responding to question from reporters, Layinka assured that the governor will not allow the cordiality between himself and the Olubadan be truncated or jeopardized by any individual, adding that the government is not ruling out the possibility of a visit on the monarch anytime soon.
