Cooperate with security agencies, Oyinlola urges

From Fisayo Akinduro, Osogbo
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Nigerians have been urged to be vigilant, decisive and cooperate with security agencies in order to put an end to insecurity and impunity in the country.

An elder statesman and former governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola disclosed this while reacting to the gruesome death of Mrs Funke Olakunrin, the daughter of Afenifere leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti.

Oyinlola said governments exist to protect lives and property and not to release condolence messages after each avoidable killing as this.

While stressing that government has a lot of work to do to convince Nigerians that these criminals are not above the law, he noted that government must never be seen as being hostage to or complicit of crime and criminality.

Oyinlola, who described the murder of Mrs Olakunrin in broad daylight as shock and a rude reminder to all of us that the country is in terrible times, noting that this is a time for all patriots to be sobered and reflected on how we got to this Hobbesian point when life has become nasty, brutish and short.

“These criminals have declared a war against our nation and we should take the war to them. The Federal Government is expected to lead this war without bringing politics into it and without any emotional bias against the law.

“One of the reasons some of us backed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 was his perceived competence in security matters, given his training and status as a General of the Nigerian Army.

“He needs to redeem his image, now that deadly criminals have taken over the land, rubbishing all he has ever lived for. He needs to come out clearly now, address the nation, outlining clearly his war plans to safeguard the lives and property of all Nigerians in all states. Nigerians want to hear him directly not through an aide or a party chief. He is the one they voted for as Commander-in-Chief, not someone else.”

He urged Nigerians to give the government necessary assistance and hold the government responsible for whatever happens to our lives and property.