Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says what Nigerians want to see is evidence that justice is being done against kidnappers, bandits and all those involved in one form of criminality or another.
Osinbajo said this after he partook in the All Progressives Congress (APC) membership and revalidation exercise in Ikenne, Ogun state.
Talking to journalists after his revalidation exercise, Prof. Osinbajo noted that the security challenges that the country is facing are not insurmountable.
“Prosecution of all those who have been arrested for kidnapping, banditry and all other forms of criminality. There must be evidence that justice is being done. This is achievable by stronger collaboration between the Police, States Ministries of Justice and the Federal Ministry of Justice,” Prof Osinbajo said.
He added that, With the new Service Chiefs, we have a fresh set of eyes, intellect, and skills and a fresh look at strategies against the insurgency in the North East , as well as banditry and kidnapping elsewhere. In this new approach much greater emphasis is being placed on technology for surveillance, intelligence gathering and attack.
Speaking further, Osinbajo again advocated for State Police. “Ultimately, we must put in place a State Police Structure. In the meantime we must speed up and strengthen the community policing structures, States must continually train, educate and formalize their local security structures so that they complement the Federal law enforcement agencies. Policing must be a collective effort.
“We must resist any attempts to destroy the unity of this country. Our people have lived and worked together for decades. While we must attend to the cries of communities for justice, equity and fairness we can do so within this same union. Ultimately we are stronger together than apart.
“I am pleased to note that the exercise has been very smooth in Ogun State. The materials have been distributed and the processes are being followed closely.
“Finally let me urge all who want progress, prosperity abundance and justice to register as members of the APC today! God bless the APC. God bless Ogun State and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
On the revalidation exercise, he said, “I am extremely pleased to be here to participate in the Registration and Revalidation exercise of our great party. But first permit me to welcome you all to Ikenne my home town and more importantly the home town of Papa Obafemi Awolowo, the father and progenitor of the great movement that we call “the progressives” today.
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“It is on the broad shoulders of the social democratic philosophies of the maximum happiness and well being of all the people that we in our great party the All Progressives Congress- APC-stand firmly and confidently today.
Osinbajo said the party must continue to situate the ongoing exercise in an ideological context. “Party Registration and Revalidation is important because it offers us an opportunity to have a credible roll of members such that we are able to reach our members from the polling booth level all the way to the wards, local government, and federal constituencies.
The Vice President said the APC is a party of the people and that they play an integral part in the party’s successes. “The people are the party and the party is the people. Ours is a grassroots party. A party of the people. Our focus is on the welfare, prosperity and wellbeing of all our people.
“Party members must understand their importance in the scheme of things. They must fully understand party’s philosophy and programs, they must be actively mobilized to participate in, propagate and support government programs.
“But we are in government at one of the most challenging times in history. The pandemic has made matters worse, and we have also had security challenges that have stretched our law enforcement capacities all over the country.
“Yet we remain the best party to solve these problems. Because of our grassroots orientation, we have and continue to put in place the best programmes for the welfare of our people.
Prof Osinbajo explained that the present administration is making a lot of effort at engaging young Nigerians. “Aside from the various microcredit schemes, payroll support program, we have the N-Power, and now the 774000 jobs programme, N75B Youth Fund, but we also have a mass housing scheme, mass agriculture, and a solar home systems for 5m homes.”
