The Governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji has expressed concern over the recent kidnappings in Okemesi/Ido-Ile axis.
Oyebanji, who said the ugly trend should be reversed, urged the chairmen of the three local governments in the area “to collaborate with the residents and governments at all levels to ensure an end to crimes in their area”.
The governor spoke at his Ikogosi-Ekiti country home while receiving the chairmen and leadership of Ekiti West Local Government and Ekameta and Okemesi-Ido Ile local council development areas.
He said,
“Let me appeal to us on security because I heard that kidnappers are resurfacing in some areas. We must sit down as a community and as a government to ensure we don’t allow it to happen because where there is no security, people will run away from such places.”
“I will sit down with the chairmen of the local governments to find a lasting solution to that place. We must not allow them. My own vision is Ekiti State where everybody will be able to live well and live a worthy life.”
Oyebanji advised the leadership of the councils to love and accommodate one another, assuring them that his administration was committed to the development of the state.
He said his administration had set in motion aggressive rehabilitation of roads in the area for easy accessibility, adding that efforts were on to ensure effective and efficient electricity supply to the area, to boost the economic activities of the people and state.
The Chairman of Ekiti West Local Government, Olusesan Okere, said the visit was to celebrate the Easter festivity with the governor and to tell him that they appreciated what he had been doing since he came to office.
Okere, who said Ekiti West was proud of the achievements of the governor in less than six months in office, took the opportunity to ask the governor for an institution that would serve as a catalyst for socio-economic development of the area.