Posted by 9jabook.com on October 29, 2009 at 6:30pm
"It is vey pathetic that law makers would call for robbers to cease operations whilst the under 17 world cup is going on in Nigeria so that foreigners don't have a bad impression of Nigeria, how ludicrous. People like the Hon member Edward Ayo Odugbesan , represent the decay that is in our nation and has permeated all sphere of socio-political and economic fabric. What utter rubbish. what about the lives of thousands of Nigerians that are lost every year because of armed robbery and a very ineffective government that cannot provide security for its citizen. To even have the temerity to suggest they can continue after is enough grounds for him to lose his seat. What hope is there for our nation if people like this seat as law makers over us ?"
The Ogun State House of Assembly on Wednesday appealed to armed robbers operating in the state and neighbouring ones to suspend their activities in the light of the junior World Cup going on in the country.
The Assembly reminded the robbers that any of their operations during the period of the tournament will give the country a bad name, as several foreign visitors are in the country now. Ogun is one of the states hosting teams in the competition.
The lawmakers agreed to beg the bandits during deliberations on the floor of the House, at their Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta complex. A member, Edward Ayo Odugbesan had raised an alarm that the Isheri bridge, which links Ogun with Lagos State, has become a den of bandits.
Mr. Odugbesan said there is a need for the men of the underworld to suspend their operations in the interim, because of the on-going mundial. The Ijebu-Ode International Stadium is one of the centres being used for the competition.
"I want to appeal to the men of the underworld to suspend their actions and operations in the interim because of our foreign visitors currently in the state," he said. "Then they can resume thereafter, because there is nowhere in the world where robbers and robberies could be stopped from their work." He then called on his colleagues to support his call on the armed bandits to soft-pedal because the situation is becoming worrisome. "If foreigners witness the robbers' attacks at this point, it would send a bad signal to other nations," he said.
Police wake up
Reacting to Mr. Odugbesan's call, the Speaker, Tunji Egbetokun, called on the police leadership to intensify efforts in ensuring that security is maintained in the state. "I want to use the opportunity to call on the police to intensify efforts in checkmating criminals. They should please not relent in the efforts," he said. In a related development, the Assembly ordered the head of the Local Government Administration of Obafemi-Owode to appear before it next Wednesday for clarification on the budget and expenditure of the council.
The local government official was said to have dodged previous invitations over the past three months - a development which the Assembly faulted at its session yesterday. The lawmakers, therefore, directed the Clerk of the House, Demola Badejo, to write the official on the matter and direct him to report before it.
We regret that as at press Time The Chairman of The Robbers Association of Nigeria, Ogun State chapter could not be reached for comments .
O What a Gun filled State ! O GUN !
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