Date: 2013-02-06

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State has attributed the suspension of the councils of Offa and Oyun local government areas of the state to the inability of the chairmen to manage the motor parks in the two communities, which precipitated the earlier phase of the inter-communal violence.

This is just as the governor assured the communities that nobody found guilty of sponsoring the violence would be spared of the full wrath of the law.

"On the premise of not being able to manage the parks, which are largely guided by bye-laws at the local government levels, the councils fell short of expectations in their responsibilities to maintain law and order and in ensuring the safety of life and property,"  he said.

Speaking when the management of Nigeria Navy School of Health Sciences paid him a courtesy visit to seek greater cooperation with the state on boosting security efforts of the state government, Governor Ahmed said that the suspension of the councils was also a signal to all and sundry that laws were meant to be complied with and that those charged with the responsibility of implementing laws must always be proactive.

Governor Ahmed said that people could not continue to abuse the due process by taking laws into their own hands, engaging in wanton destruction of property and expect the government to fold it arms, adding that the government had zero tolerance for violence.

Governor Ahmed said the state security committee would be expanded to involve the Nigeria Navy as part of efforts to strengthen  security in the state.

Also speaking, Commandant, Nigeria Navy School of Medical Services, Captain Ima Ansa, said the Nigeria Navy was ready to render support to the security platform of the Kwara State government in order to enhance the protection of life and property in the state.

The commandant, who described the recent crisis between Offa and Erin-Ile communities as unfortunate, said the Naval school had been rendering minimal security efforts within its areas of jurisdiction without interference in the local politics.