By Peter Ayoade
The Provost, Emmanuel Alayande College of Education Oyo, Dr. Rasak Adefabi has lauded the Oyo State Governor, Engr. Oluseyi Makinde, on his government’s efforts on the State’s security. He stated this at the opening ceremony of the 4th National Conference of the School of Secondary Education (Arts and Social Science Programmes) with a theme National Security at a cross road: seeking recourse in security at the humanities, sciences and technology, held at the College Provost Conference Hall on Tuesday.
According to a release made available by the Special Assistant on Media Matters to the Provost, Wale Adeoye, the College boss stated that, “let me use this opportunity to express our profound appreciation to the Executive Governor, Engr. Oluseyi Makinde, who continues to guarantee security architecture devoid of rancor and pandemonium on which today’s conference also leverages. The importance attached to security by our amiable Governor, cannot be over-emphasized as Oyo State Government has by no measure paid any lip service to the issue of security as epitomised in the state’s huge investment in the training of over 1500 recently recruited AMOTEKUN CORPS currently going on in our College.”
Speaking further, “It is another clear demonstration of the premium attached to the security of lives and properties of Oyo State citizens. The government’s choice of our College for this epoch making event among the comity of tertiary institutions in Nigeria further consolidates our College as the primus – inter – paris. This undoubtedly prints Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo in a good light not only in the minds of the good people of Oyo State and quite well before the good government in the state. We shall forever appreciate the Governor for this”, he stated.
While hoping to receiving the State Chief Executive in the College during the closing ceremony of the Amotekun training, the Iseyin-born Technocrat stated, “On behalf of the Chairman, Governing Council, Prof. Matthew Odedokun, the indefatigable members of the 14th Council for the College, Management, Staff and Students, I register our sincere gratitude and appreciation to His Excellency, Engineer Oluseyi Makinde as we are salivating to have him on our Campus during closing of the Amotekun Training corps so that the over ten (10) years jinx of not having any College Visitor – the Executive Governor of Oyo State visited our institution shall be broken”.
Acknowledging that Nigeria is enmeshed in a lot of challenges ranging from insecurity, poverty, hunger, poor health service delivery, low quality education, poor economic growth and unavailability of clean portable water, erratic power supply, climate change, gender inequality and a host of others which are obviously causes of its insecurity that have in no small way affected the well-being of common Nigerians and also impeded on its economic development as a nation, the College helmsman while declaring the 4th National Conference open advocated for quality leadership and followership as genuine remedies to insecurity.
In his address, the Keynote Speaker, Special Adviser on Security Matter to the Oyo State Governor, Rtd. Compol Fatai Owoseni identified security matter as business of all citizens and therefore must not be left in the hands of the government alone. According to him “Police is a reflection of the society. If the police is bad, then, the society is bad too”. It is quite unfortunate that we proliferate security in Nigeria but as followers, we must hold our leaders responsible”.
While asking if truly Nigeria is actually at a cross road on its security architecture, he advocated for viable alternatives in the areas of good governance and policy stability and the building of institutions against individuals. He finally used the occasion to laud his boss, Gov. ‘Seyi Makinde on many of the giant strides he had taken in the areas of security which include purchase of 100 security vehicles distributed across the State, provision of a security code “615”, creation of a security website “Oyostatecrimealert” which can be downloaded by the citizens and made use of in case of emergencies, the approval of Oyo State Police Squadron at Ago-Are, among others.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Dean, School of Secondary Education (Arts and Social Science Programmes), Mr. Kolade Akindele acknowledged that security situation in Nigeria is indeed at cross-road due to many instances of security in Nigeria. According to the Ibadan-born Geographer, “it is significant to discuss security issues in Nigeria in this manner and advising functionaries in government on the modern techniques to put lasting solutions to it”. “The 4th national conference of this great School has to its part, awards to dignitaries who are excellent in their professional callings within and outside the College,” he submitted.
The Chairman of the event, Pastor Olatunde Oladokun, a 1987 alumnus of the School of Arts and Social Sciences could not hide his joy in returning to the College that made him after 33 years of exit. He thanked his former and current teachers who have sustained the good name of the College. While calling on a change of attitude from all and sundry, the Chairman, SEAP Micro -Finance Bank Ltd used the occasion to bless the College with scholarships for 15 students (in the Departments of History, Christian Religious Studies and Islamic Religious Studies) for the next five years and to be enjoyed by each of the worthy beneficiaries up to the Masters education levels. Furthermore, the kind- hearted philanthropist also donated 10 sowing machines and 10 hairdryers to the College School of Vocational and Technical Education and 10 laptops each to the remaining five Faculties in the College among others.
The lead paper presenter, Prof. Rasheed Olaniyi of the Department of History, University of Ibadan in his paper titled “Resurgence of Vigilantism in the Era of National Security Conundrum in Nigeria submitted that “Vigilantes are extremely indispensable in the promotion of national security in terms of intelligence gathering, crime control and counter-insurgency. Many vigilantes have lost their lives in the process of combating rural banditry, urban crimes and counter-insurgence operations, yet there are fears that vigilantes could turn into Nigeria’s next security threat. While many vigilante members were professionals in the discharge of their duties, others have been found to be very corrupt and tyrannical. From historical experiences, there are apprehensions that they could evolve into ethnic militia or be used for political purposes. The arming of vigilante groups by some state governments poses threat to the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the country. It could also lead to the increasing wave of crime. Finally, the partnership between formal security agencies and the vigilantes should be more formalised. Vigilantes should be more protected by law.
Among the features of the opening programme was the conferment of meritorious awards on distinguished personalities among whom are the College Provost, Dr. Rasak A. Adefabi, Special Adviser on Security Matters to the Governor and Executive Secretary, Oyo State Security Trust Fund, Rtd. Compol. Fatai Owoseni, Chairman, SEAP Microfinance Bank Ltd., Pastor Dr. Oladokun Olatunde, Dr. Lateef Adeniran, Dr. Joseph Adeagbo (Provost, Oyo State College of Education, Lanlate), Snr. Apostle Oluremi Oladokun and Dr. Mrs. Sekinat A. Kola-Aderoju of the Kola Daisi University, Ibadan.
The 3-day National Conference was brought to a close on Thursday, 12 November, 2020 with a communique jointly signed by the Chairman and Secretary, Local Organizing Committee, S. A Okediji and K. A Hamzah respectively which among other things called on government to review the security architecture of the country to ensuring adequate and appropriate policing of ungoverned spaces in both on-shore and off-shore parts of the country as a way of securing lives and properties as well as maintaining territorial integrity of the country.
