Funmi Olaitan, Ibadan

Oyo State government has vowed not to succumb to intimidation by any individual or group to prevent it from pursuing its transformation and repositioning agenda drive, saying sustainability of peace is a project that has been prioritized by the government.
 
It also urged the people to eschew hate speeches that can lead to religious conflict, violence, crimes, ethnic tension and destabilization of the country.
 
Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Olalekan Alli, who said this at the flag off of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) programme tagged, “Building a people of Peace”,  held at Western Hall, Parliament Building, Secretariat, Ibadan, called on Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of love, togetherness and peaceful co-existence to enhance the Nation’s unity.
 
He explained that the state government would continue to sustain the peaceful co-existence and serene environment, pointing that the awareness and sensitization campaign on peaceful co-existence, security, consciousness and danger of hate speeches was to promote harmony in the country.
 
He said, “The restoration of peace in the state is the project that must be sustained to further ensure continued development and by extension, enhancing the state’s economy. Also, the peace and positive transformation are germane for local and foreign investment to thrive and thereby yielding the fruit of economic breakthrough for the state."
 
Alli stated that the second quarter report of National Bureau of Statistics ranked Oyo State as one of the most investor and investment friendly state in the country, noting that this is due to the reigning peace and positive transformation in the state.
 
“We are glad to note that by the latest National Bureau of Statistics reports, 2nd Quarter of 2017, Oyo State ranks fourth among the most investor friendly States in Nigeria”, he stated.
 
The SSG further appealed to the citizens to key into the transformation agenda of the present administration in the state by actively participating in preaching peaceful co-existence and unity of the country for the benefit of the present and unborn generation.
 
Oyo State Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mrs. Dolapo Dosunmu, said the sensitization programme was aimed at bringing security consciousness to the door steps of all citizens as well as build solid system for combating crimes and criminality in the society.
 
She reiterated that the sensitization was also to orientate Nigerians towards developing social desirable attitudes like shunning hate speeches and enhancing peaceful co-existence among the citizens.
 
The state Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Toye Arulogun, admonished all and sundry to give room for peace to reign and shun hate speeches especially in the media.