By OLA AJAYI
IBADAN— Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, yesterday, threatened to apply the full weight of the law to deal with any individual or group who use the ongoing national strike to further unleash mayhem in the state.

In areas like Ologuneru, Eleyele, Sango-Polytechnic road, miscreants have taken over the protest and were extorting money from motorists; and whenever they resisted, trouble ensued.

Though security agents were seen removing roadblocks on the road, but immediately they left the scene, the thugs replaced the obstructions.

The governor, in a broadcast yesterday, said: “In the last three days, we have witnessed ugly incidents of armed attacks and arson on public utilities like offices of the PHCN and police stations, the burning of private business concerns as well as attack on individuals and assault and rape of defenseless women. We shall not allow this.  We shall maintain the peace and tranquility that have reigned in the state since the inception of this administration.  “Anyone who seeks to test our resolve will be visited with the full weight of the law, no matter how highly placed the person is.

“As a government elected on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, we stand by the position of our party that the issue in contention is within the purview of the exclusive legislative list of the Federal Government. We, however, affirm the democratic right of the people to be informed, educated and consulted in the exercise of this power.”

More importantly, we hold that the utmost responsibility of the state is to protect the well-being of the people.”

Ajimobi said that owing to the current situation, government convened an emergency meeting of the State Security Council to outline actions that would guarantee law and order in the state.

To check the excesses of the hoodlums, he noted that the government had received assurances of the leadership of labour and civil society groups to the peaceful exercise of their democratic right of protest between the hours of 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Also, the administration had accordingly approved a Joint Security Patrol of the Army, Police and other security agencies to dislodge illegal roadblocks and apprehend criminals, who are hiding under anti-subsidy removal protest to harass, extort and assault people any minute after the approved time for protest.

“In addition, we are consulting with other state governors, particularly those elected on the platform of the ACN to explore ways of resolving the current crisis. As a government elected by the people, we are committed to ensuring that government decisions and actions are to the benefit of the majority of our people. Our people have spoken. Their position shall be conveyed to appropriate quarters for consideration, in the interest of peace and order”, Ajimobi said.