South-west Governors rebuke AGF, IGP over disrespect meted on Gov. Sanwo-olu

The South-West Governors’ Forum has rebuked the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, and the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Baba, over the ‘disrespect’ displayed by a Chief Superintendent of Police towards its member, the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

The CSP identified as Abimbola Oyewole had disregarded Governor Sanwo-Olu’s orders concerning him and his men vacating the Magodo Phase 2 Estate area on Tuesday, confirming that he was acting on the orders of the IGP and the AGF.

It was disclosed in a statement titled ‘Southwest Governors: Police Officer’s Disrespect To Sanwo-Olu An Unacceptable Intrusion… Say Lagos Must Deploy Amotekun Now.’

On Wednesday, the statement signed by the Chairman of the South-West Governors’ Forum and the Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, read, “We condemn, very strongly, this brazen assault on decency. We call on the IG to explain the justification for this intrusion. This is not acceptable. Any expectations of rapprochement between so-called federating units and federal security agencies are progressively becoming forlorn due to deliberate acts that mock our very avowal to ethics and professionalism.

“We condemn, in unequivocal terms, the role of the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami SAN, in this act of gross moral turpitude.

“We, on our part, will continue to interrogate the current system, which treats elected representatives of the people as mere prefects, while appointed office holders ride roughshod over them as Lords of the Manor. Suppose the purported Chief Security Officers of the States of the Federation require clearance from the office of the IG on matters within their areas of jurisdiction. In that case, only hypocrites will wonder why the current security crisis deepens, and there appears to be no solution in the foreseeable future.

“We stand by our brother, the Governor of Lagos State. We advise him to deploy the Regional security outfit in the State to protect the lives and property of the people.

“We call on the President and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces to rein in the excesses of certain elements bent on acting in a manner capable of eroding the bond of trust existing between the people and the Federal Government. It is preposterous for political appointees to seek to undermine the very structure of service upon which their appointments rest.”

The story behind the incident reveals that CSP Oyewole and some police operatives had accompanied a family to carry out Supreme Court judgment concerning properties at the estate. This led to a protest by residents of the estate, attracting the attention of Governor Sanwo-Olu. On Tuesday, he visited the scene and ordered the police operatives to vacate the estate for calm to return.

Reacting, the South-West Governors’ Forum described the attitude of the CSP as disrespectful while demanding an explanation from the IGP.

NAN/Suzan O.