My administration’s huge investment in security, reason for businesses influx--Ajimobi

L-R: Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi; Chairman, Oyo State Security Trust Fund/All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Chief Adebayo Adelabu; and a Security Expert, Mr Francis Anyaebosi, during the inauguration of Phase One of the Safe City Control Centre, in Ibadan, on Monday. Photo: Governor's Office

Senator Abiola Ajimobi, Oyo State Governor, has attributed the influx of blue chip companies and other businesses to the state to the success of his administration’s huge investments in security since he assumed office in 2011.

The governor stated this while inaugurating the first phase of Oyo State Safe City Control Centre at Onireke, in Ibadan, on Monday.

Activities in some black spots and business districts in Ibadan, as captured by Close Circuit Televisions installed in these areas are being monitored through the centre to curb criminal activities.

The project, which is situated at the headquarters of OYSSTF, covers places like Idi-Arere, Beere, Oke-Ado, Ojoo, Sango, Dugbe and Mokola.

Ajimobi said that his administration had delivered on good governance which he attributed to the enabling environment brought about by the pervading peace as well as security of lives and property.

He said: "I have always said that a good leader will take his people to where they want to be but a great leader will take them to where they ought to be, while he envisions movement to another greater level.

"Our immediate effort in 2011 at stopping crime and criminal activities yielded results as our special joint security outfit which we codenamed “Operation Burst” had done a lot in restoring peace to our otherwise troubled state.

"Today, Oyo State is ranked as one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria and this has reflected in the upsurge of commercial activities in the state. This has led to Oyo State being adjudged as one of the five states with ease of doing business in the country."

The governor used the occasion to reiterate his call for the establishment of state police as the only panacea to crime in Nigeria.

He said he was the first governor to present the proposal for state police at a national security meeting at Abuja where he gave the details of the advantages inherent in each state having its own police to fight local crimes.

Ajimobi said: "Go round the world and see those advanced democracies; you will see that there is none of them without state police. All the states in the United States of America, France, Canada and other countries have their own respective police.

"The state police will be staffed with people from the local communities where they have deep knowledge about the terrain and the inhabitants therein. That is why no crime goes undiscovered in the Western world.

"I once presented a proposal on the need for state police at a national security meeting in Abuja because I believed then and now that it is an arrangement that is germane to the enthronement and maintenance of peace at the grassroots."

The governor expressed appreciation to all the security agencies in the state for working assiduously to reduce crime, even in the face of inadequate logistics, lack of technology and database in the country.

He assured the people of the state that the installation of CCTV cameras at some black spots in and around Ibadan as well as other cities in the state was a fulfillment of his administration’s pledge to use technology in combating crime.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Abiodun Odude, commended the Ajimobi administration for its tremendous support to the police and other security agencies in the state to make their work easier.

According to him, security apparatus would probably have been grounded in the state if not for the prompt intervention of the governor in the provision of logistics such as operational vehicles, spare parts and other materials like Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs).

Odude said: "No security can be achieved without the necessary logistics. Governor Ajimobi has helped refurbish three APC out of the 12 we have, and I can assure you that one APC is equal to 100 policemen. So we must show our gratitude to the governor for his supports at all time.

"I can tell you that if not for the intervention of the governor in the area of security in the state, security arrangements would have been in shambles by now."

In his address, the Chairman, Board of Trustees of Oyo State Security Trust Fund, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, said the project was another landmark by the Ajimobi administration in its quest at improving the people's well-being.

He said the monitoring capability of the CCTV technology have been pre-empting crime in the notable strategic locations in the state.

Adelabu said: "Nobody will commit crime if he knows he will be apprehended. The realization that you are being watched is a measure of deterrence to crime.”

He expressed appreciation to individuals and corporate organizations for their financial support to the Fund, calling on others yet to contribute to also contribute their own quota towards a safer Oyo State.