Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has noted that Nigerians are unsafe under the current situation, stressing that in order to avert the danger of insecurity, the nation must change its course.
The governor spoke on Monday at the Dapo Aderogba Hall of the Nigeria Union of Journalists Press Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan, while declaring open the 2020 Press Week.
Makinde was inaugurated as the Grand Patron of the NUJ on the occasion.
According to him, the #EndSARS protests and other recent occurrences in the land pointed to the fact that the country was due for a change.
“If the country refuses to change its course on the state of security no one will be spared.
“I believe some of you journalists here covered those events – hijacking of the #EndSARS protests and looting – and can tell the stories first hand. If there is one thing you took away from that #EndSARS event, it is that no one is really safe if Nigeria continues to travel the current path.
“If we continue on this path, no one will be spared. So, we have to make up our minds that we need to change course. Therefore, everyone has a role to play in bringing about development in our country,” he said.
The governor added, “The theme you have chosen for this year’s engagement is quite timely. Global events in the year 2020 have further exposed the need for development in the underdeveloped world.
“When the COVID-19 pandemic was first identified as a worldwide threat, public commentators were worried about the impact the pandemic would have on African nations. Our poor healthcare and sanitation systems seemed to point to higher levels of devastation than in the developed world.
“The economic effects of the pandemic can also be partially blamed for the level of looting and banditry that followed the #EndSARS protests about a month ago. People everywhere were hungry and angry.”
Mr Demola Babalola, state Chairman of NUJ, urged the governor to support efforts by the union to provide shelter for members at Ajia.
