Distinguished colleagues
I found it necessary to address you once again this morning, about the security challenges in our community, In view of the unfortunate development that took place last night about another kidnapping case along Utelu road, Owo in which one of our colleagues was a victim. These incidents dent steel, but they cannot shatter the steel of RUGIPO and Ondo State government resolve to move forward.
These acts of lawlessness, robbery, kidnapping and murder were intended to frighten Ondo State into chaos and retreat. But they have failed. Our state is strong. Our leaders are very strong and committed. We are moving forward – We shall overcome by God’s grace.
Ondo State people are strong people, there must be no cowards among us, we must not act the script and strengthen the hands of the enemies, by engaging in any act that may lead to the disruption of our academic programmes and calendar which will not add any value to the process except to increase our misery and revised the gains already recorded, but rather than retreat, we must fight back.
The kidnappers live among us, we must volunteer information about them to the police, we must take the battle to the kidnappers den by reporting any suspicious movements to the security agents and sanction the routes and villages that harbor these criminals . We must have a policy that is non discriminatory between the criminals and those that harbor them : They must suffer the same fate.
Our first priority as Governing Council is to get help for our colleague in captivity, to secure his immediate release and to take every precaution to protect all members of the Polytechnic community from further attacks. I encourage all of us to go about our normal duties and not to do anything to strengthen the hands of our enemies or distract the council members and management from our set goals .
I suspect that the current attacks are random and not targeted at us as members of RUGIPO families, the same security challenges are being experienced at other locations of our state.
I like to assure all of us, that we are on top of the situation: No one should panic : We shall either take our enemies to justice or take justice to our enemies, whichever way — Justice must be done.
The eagle do not hide when they see a storm rather the eagle flies boldly into the eye of the storm without a trace of fear but with power, majesty, grace and passion. The lion rises and roars with courage and strength as the adversary approaches. The king does not yield one inch of the field to the marauding enemy but rather he gallantly and boldly lead the captains and princesses into the bitterness part of the battle. This is surely our calling.
We shall overcome and all the enemies of our state shall be put to shame .
To all of us —whose sense of safety and security has been threatened. I pray that , we will all be comforted by a greater power than any of us, spoken through the ages in Psalm 23: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil for you are with me”. D Lord is with us .
The good Lord will rid our communities of miscreants, restore peace and tranquillity to our Ondo State
Thank You : God bless RUGIPO: God bless Ondo State, Banji Alabi Esq
