I won't rest until police get Olaitan's killers – Oshiomhole

Edo state governor, Adams Oshiomhole on Wednesday again demonstrated his determination to get the killers of his late Private Secretary, Oyerinde Olaitan, who was gruesomely murdered, tasking the police to apprehend the perpetrators.

“If a Governor can’t get justice, then the ordinary man has no hope of getting same,” he said.

Oshiomhole stated this while playing host to the new Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Foluso Adebanjo in his office, in Benin the state capital.

Beside, the governor said good governance is impossible without a courageous and strong judiciary.

He said: “I cannot pretend, I remain aggrieved and I believe it’s a shame, a national embarrassment that a Governor can’t get justice. If a Governor can’t get justice, what is the hope of a tomato seller, what is the hope of a road-side mechanic, what is the hope of an Okada rider?

“The Police will not rest, I will not rest until the Police get the killers of Olaitan.”

The governor noted that the police as law enforcement officers must recognise that they have a duty to protect the citizens.

He said: “all of us must recognise that we are trustees of the Nigerian people. We must earn the position that we are privileged to occupy. Anywhere I see a police officer, I will keep saying it; you must produce who killed Olaitan and explain why they bungled the investigations.

“I have said it to the IG, I have said to the President and if I have the opportunity I will say it to the UN.’’

The Governor explained that his insistence on the Police to produce Olaitan’s killers is to entrench the rule of law, noting that “if the rule of law collapses, even men in uniform can’t walk free because those outside uniform are more in numbers. So when they submit to arrest, it’s because in their sub-consciousness, they recognise that the state exists and that the instrument of the state is a responsible police force. So help me tell the IG that I still renew my demand that he has to produce those who killed Olaitan.”

The Governor, however, noted that the police are providing invaluable services to the country, saying the failure of a DIG will not stop him from relating with the police as an institution.

He promised that the state government will rebuild the Auchi Police station and the Area Commander’s office bombed late last year by hoodlums.

He said since assuming office as Governor, he has maintained a mutually beneficial relationship with the Police and other security agencies.

He noted that “there is no doubt that the issue of security is very important. Nigerians expect that poor or rich, in poverty or prosperity, we need security. Security is a precondition for economic prosperity.

“We are never going to attract the level of investors we need or even retain the existing ones if Nigeria is unsafe.”

Earlier, the State’s new commissioner of Police, Mr. Adebanjo assured the Governor that he would work hard to rid the state of criminals.

He said, ‘‘I have addressed my men and I made it clear to them that the right of the people must be respected. I will not tolerate any illegal detentions, abuse of office, detention of suspects more than 24 hours except in cases of kidnapping and armed robbery. I’m here to work and I promise you that I will do my best.”

Speaking also at the swearing-in of there new Justices of the State High Court, a Judge of the State Customary Court of Appeal and a Permanent Secretary and Solicitor-General in the Ministry of Justice, Oshiomhole said “I am sure I speak the minds of the Edo people when I say the Edo state judiciary has never been involved in any of those controversies that we read about across the country. It shows your leadership style and how that has impacted positively on the conduct of our judicial officers”.

He noted, “the way you identified young men and women that we have just sworn in as Judges is a bold statement about your style and your respect for merit, fairness and justice. I am not responsible for the appointment of these judges. The appointment of judicial officers should not be determined by the vagaries of politics”.

The Governor commended the individual qualities of the appointed judges, and expressed optimism that their appointments would further enrich the Edo State judiciary. ‘‘I want to congratulate all of you and wish you all the best,” he added’.

To the newly appointed Permanent Secretary, Oshimohole said ‘‘we cannot sustain development if we do not have an effective ministry of justice. You are professional head of the ministry of justice and you are taking over a place vacated by a hardworking lady who has been made a judge”, he added.

Responding on behalf of the newly appointed judges, Justice Osaretin Uwuiegbe, thanked the governor for the confidence reposed in them and assured that they would dispense justice without fear or favour.

The newly appointed judges are Hon. Justice Nogi Imoukhede, Rita Ifijeh, Victor Oviawe and Stalla Uwuigbe. The new Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice is Mr Oluwole Iyamu.