Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has promised to compensate the families of those killed by operatives of the Nigerian Customs Service in a shooting incident in the Iseyin area of the state last Thursday.
Makinde made the promise, on Tuesday, during a stopover at the palace of the Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Abdulganiyy Adekunle, en route campaigning for Chairmanship and Councillorship candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Iseyin area in Saturday’s local government elections.
No fewer than four residents of Iseyin were felled by stray bullets in last Thursday’s incident while the Customs officers were on the hunt of suspected smugglers.
Commiserating with the families of the deceased, Makinde assured that his administration will not shy up with taking up issues with the Customs and federal authorities as the need arises.
He, however, cautioned residents of the state against taking laws into their hands, but rather trust the state government to effectively handle contentious issues when they come up.
While assuring further engagement with the affected families with a view to stabilising them, Makinde solicited more support for the families from well-meaning Nigerians.
Speaking, Makinde said: “I am here today for two major reasons. First, there is no way we will campaign in Iseyin and would not come to greet you (Aseyin) in the palace.
“The second reason has to do with those who died during the recent clash between Customs official and some of our people. Customs is a federal agency but we cannot extricate ourselves from their personnel who are here with us in this state.
“Part of the reasons why something like that could have happened is that the country is facing hard times and people need to feed themselves. I consulted the State party Chairman, Alhaji Kunmi Mustapha and also met with about five families involved in this issue.
“I prayed for them and assured them that God will comfort and stay with them. I equally gave them the assurance that such occurrence will not repeat itself.
“Therefore, I will like to urge some of us to support those who lost their family members to the occurrence. In my capacity as the governor of the state, I will give N1m each to the families involved.
“I also want to promise that the government will send a delegation to engage with each family to know what we can do to stabilize them and we will definitely do what is possible.
“In the event that a thing like that happens afterwards there is a tendency that we might want to take laws into our hands but I want to appeal to us not to do that but rather believe in your government that we will always fight for you. We don’t want any further loss of life and we don’t also want destruction.
“During the #EndSARS protest, we are all aware that the Police station here got burnt and we are still trying to rebuild it. So, I am saying this because I don’t want to burn our candles at both ends. Let us just accept the fact that any issue that is needed to be taken up with both Customs and federal authorities, we will do it.”
Speaking later at the Iseyin campaign ground, Makinde expressed confidence in the PDP winning Saturday’s local government poll.
Makinde urged residents of the state to go out en-masse to vote for reliable candidates.
“Concerning the election coming up on Saturday, I want you to go out en masse to vote for reliable candidates. I am sure you know that the PDP has put forward the candidates you can trust. So, go vote for the party and I believe that when they are finally elected, they will replicate what the state government is doing in the city.
“I believe you now ply the Moniya-Iseyin road. Before the end of this administration in 2023, I promise that we will construct a road (replica of Moniya-Iseyin) from Iseyin through Ogbomoso. So, if we do that in the state, the PDP candidates you want to vote for at the local government level will follow suit at the local government level.
“So, let us work together and ensure that the state and local governments work together so that the development we are aiming for will reach the grassroots level.
“I want to remind you that I recently told the Governing Council of LAUTECH that the proposed Campus in Iseyin must begin to operate this year. So, be prepared because students will soon be trooping into the area,” Makinde added.
