The Kwara State Police Commissioner, CP Rotimi Adelesi in her determined effort to maintain the existing peace and tranquility in Kwara State, especially with respect to the planned protest to be embarked upon by the Labour, Trade, and Students Unions in the State, invited all the Labour Unions in the State, supported by the Director of State Services and Commandant NSCDC, to a peace meeting where discussions were premised on how the protest could be peaceful and rancor-free if eventually, it holds, because of the fragile nature of the state of security in the country in general and the state in particular.
According to a press release signed by the Kwara State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Okasanmi Ajayi, said that in their different contributions, both the Director of State Services Mr Patrick Ikenweiwe, and Commandant NSCDC GB Umar, spoke heartily on the need for the labor Unions to put off the protest and continue with the engagement they have begun with the federal government.
The statement read, “The labour leaders and the student leaders in the meeting spoke about their readiness to cancel the protest if only their national leaders directed them to so do.
One thing that was, generally agreed upon, was that the peace and progress of the state are paramount in the minds of all.
The CP and all others at the meeting agreed to await the final decision of the meeting between the Labour leaders and the government.
Meanwhile, security arrangements have been placed across the length and breadth of the State to checkmate and mitigate any backlash that could ensue as a result of the protest.
Consequently, the Commissioner of Police wishes to advise parents and guardians to call their children and wards to order and advise them against being instruments in the hands of the bad ones. Anyone found acting contrary to the laws of the land during the protest would be arrested and charged in court.
The meeting had in attendance Comrade Muritala Saheed, State Chairman NLC; Comrade Joseph Tunde, TUC; Alhaji Ariwola, Chairman NURTW; Alhaji Yinka Onikijipa, Chairman TREAN; Alhaji Azeez Yakubu, Chairman ORAN; Alhaji Babaelesin Abdulazeez, Sec. TOAN; and Yusuf Abdulgafar, of the University of Ilorin, who represented the student body.
