Following the razing of Ojoo and Gbagi Police Stations during the EndSARS protest 6 months ago, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, has promised to reconstruct the two police stations.
He said during a courtesy visit to the Oyo state Commissioner of Police, CP Ngozi Onadeko.
During the visit, he instantly donated the sum of Two million naira to alleviate the financial burden of the widows of the slain police officers affected by the EndSARS protest.
According to Comrade Femi Awogboro, a Media Aide to Chief Bayo Adelabu who spoke to Journalists, he emphasised that his Principal will rebuild the two police stations immediately it is approved, because of the importance of these two stations to the security of lives and properties in the affected areas.
Chief Adelabu who is the former Chairman of the Oyo State Security Trust Fund gave his unflinching support to Oyo state police command, as an indigene, resident and stakeholder to strengthen the security architecture of the state.
“The security of Oyo state deserves urgent and prompt attention by relevant stakeholders for the protection of lives and properties of indigenes and residents as well as the social and economic development of the state. It’s quite shameful that almost seven months after the EndSARS protest, the government is yet to reconstruct any of the burnt stations. This is what prompted us to decide to rebuild these stations immediately especially those in volatile locations like Ojoo and Bola Ige International Market, Old Gbagi, on New Ife road”, he said.
Chief Adelabu explained that everyone should play a crucial role in empowering the security architecture of Oyo state which used to be one of the safest states in Nigeria, this is the reason he has chosen to support the Nigeria Police at this crucial time.
“On the welfare of the widows of the EndSARS victims, we believe that it is also taking too long for the government to respond to the yearnings of these poor women whose husbands died during the protest, by relieving them of the heavy financial burdens left behind for them. It is not that we didn’t know what to do immediately but we have waited for over six months for the government to come to their aids. Since nothing is forthcoming from the government yet, this is our little way of relieving them of the financial responsibilities as this goes a long way in motivating serving officers of the Nigerian Police. As a stakeholder in this state, we have decided to donate a sum of N2million to the widows to enable them to take care of their immediate financial needs while waiting for government compensation”, Chief Adelabu added.
He also said that “issues of security are quite sensitive and authorities need to be proactive in handling them. He advised that the government should go back to the template left behind by the immediate past administration with regards to the Security Trust Fund where he was the immediate past chairman. The Trust fund, while he was there catered for the regular maintenance, repair and refurbishment of Police equipment and infrastructure while also incentivising the officers about their welfare. It’s quite expensive to do this but it was a collaboration between the government and the private sector. Private manufacturing companies, banks including the Central Bank of Nigeria contributed substantial amounts yearly to finance the activities of the Trust Fund.”
In responding, the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Mrs Ngozi Onadeko thanked Chief Adelabu for the visit and commended him for his good gesture to the Nigerian Police. She also said that other notable Oyo state indigenes and residents should take a cue from this by extending their hands of fellowship and support to the police as security of lives and properties is everybody’s responsibilities.
The formal offer to rebuild the stations was sent to the Police headquarters immediately after the meeting and brief inspections were made to the site while expecting approval feedback from the command.
Chief Bayo Adelabu was accompanied on the visit by notable APC leaders like Alhaji Wale Sanusi, Hon. Gbenga Olayemi Ariba, Hon. Wale Murphy, Mogaji Wasiu Ajimobi, Hon. Fagunwa and Alhaji Tajudeen Balogun. Also on the entourage was the PCRC (Police Community Relations Committee) Chairman for Egbeda Local Government and his Security Adviser, Mr Baale and many other dignitaries.
