October 13, (THEWILL) – A In a commendable effort to restore harmony in Shimawa community of Ogun state, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), SP Funsho Bamigboye, has successfully brokered peace between Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi, the youths, elders of Shimawa and the victims of Bullion Hotel attack.
The meeting, aimed at settling the crisis that had erupted recently between Ambassador Ajadi’s security officers and the youths of the town, following an attack on Bullion Hotel owned by Ajadi, who was governorship candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in the 2023 general elections in Ogun state.
The meeting which took place at the Shimawa Police station, led to all parties involved expressing their grievances, and the DPO facilitated a reconciliation.
This initiative took place after Ambassador Ajadi’s staff, who were arrested after the attack on the Hotel were released from the Police custody.
THEWILL recalls that there were reports that political thugs, aided by some men in Police uniforms, attacked the Bullion Hotel owned by Ambassador Ajadi.
The Police allegedly in a suspicious manner arrested seven (7) staff of the hotel, who were victims of the attack, and charged them leaving the attackers to enjoy freedom.
Addressing journalists and the attendees at the meeting, DPO Bamigboye expressed her appreciation to Ambassador Ajadi for his commitment to peace and stability in the community.
She said that one of the major purposes of having a Police station in any given town is to always restore peace and security amidst any violation of orders.
Furthermore, she emphasised that the key stakeholders in the last crisis had been summoned by the State Commissioner of Police, CP Abiodun Alamutu, and a reconciliation agreement had been reached.
She said she called for the reconciliation meeting to ensure a complete harmonisation among the stakeholders in the community.
“I have called for today’s meeting so that all the parties involved in the recent commotion between Ajadi’s security officers and the hotel’s attack victims can be resolved and we can collectively plan for the development and progress of Shimawa”, she said.
She directly addressed the Shimawa youths, specifically Sogo Oyetola and Micheal Fakoya, encouraging them to promote peace and work in unity with Olufemi Ajadi’s staff for the progress of the town.
Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi expressed his gratitude to the Police, especially the DPO for the reconciliation talks and commended her for her motherly role in settling the dispute between his staff and the attackers.
He pledged his commitment to supporting the Police with the resources required to combat crime in the community and vowed to respond promptly to calls for communal assistance.
Ajadi also admonished the youths in Shimawa to showcase good citizenship and stay away from crime and other social vices that are punishable under the law.
“I have always been a peacemaker. My business ventures and homes are in Shimawa and these are symbols of peace and harmony for the town.
“I have kept the security officers after the election as I felt that most electorates and residents believe that politicians are used to dumping the youths after using them during the election.”
Mr Omokehinde Olowu, who accompanied Ambassador Ajadi to the peace meeting, described Ajadi as a peacekeeper, who had never violated the law, urging the community to rally behind Ajadi in realising his political ambition in 2027, which he believed would be of benefit to Shimawa significantly.
Sogo Oyetola, the youth leader of Shimawa, while expressing his desire for peaceful coexistence between the town’s indigenous people and those who had acquired land there, he emphasised the importance of everyone being able to sleep in their homes without fear.
Also speaking, Bolaji Sogunro, the Public Relations Officer of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), in Shimawa, expressed his joy at Ambassador Ajadi’s presence and stressed the need for peace to ensure the town’s prosperity.
About the Author
AYO ESAN, has been actively reporting and analyzing political events for different newspapers for over 18 years. He has also successfully covered national and state elections in Nigeria since the inception of this democracy in 1999.
