Enact Bill To Criminalise Illegal Entries Into Ogun- Labour Party Tells Governor

By ABIODUN JIMOH, ABEOKUTA

The Labour Party (LP), Ogun State chapter has expressed fear over illegal entries of people during this deadly coronavirus pandemic into the state despite ban on interstate movement.

The party in a press statement signed by its Chairman, Comrade Abayomi Arabambi hereby called on the state government as a matter of necessity and urgent to promote a bill to be enacted by the Ogun State House of Assembly (OGHA) that will immediately criminalise the act of illegal entries and smuggling of people into the state.

He said: “The most and extremely needful urgent step is for the Ogun State government under the leadership of Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun is to promote a bill in the state House of Assembly to criminalise illegal entries into the state immediately.”

Arabambi pointed that not only the indigenous citizens, but even the various non-native residents have been readily receiving large number of people illegally from their original states during this pandemic.

“Besides, these people were encouraged to come into the state by their kinsmen who have been long resident in the state. There are large numbers of immigrants from other states, more so and particularly from the north of the country who illegally troupe into the state with an undeniable help from the corrupt security officers who are supposed to secure the state against such acts.

“We in Ogun LP here strongly suggest that such illegal entries into the state should be seen as acts of terrorism and treasonable felony. Mostly, they have chosen Ogere in Ikenne LG area of the state as the main route through where they spread into the state .

“In our considered opinion, the time is now for the state to cause a bill to be enacted by the State House of Assembly that will immediately criminalise the act of smuggling oneself into the state during this pandemic.

“The law should make it an act of terrorism and treasonable felony during this inter-state border closure and lockdown for any person or persons to smuggle himself or be smuggled by another into Ogun State.

“This is a deliberate act of coup-detat aims at compromising the health of the whole citizens of Ogun State by probably importing COVID-19 intentionally or by implication.

“It is not in doubt that the negativities of such as identified here can go a long way to undo all that the government has done so far in a very short number of days.”

Also, he enjoined the state governor to strictly and heavily visit the full weight of the law on anyone who flouts the official order of nose covering in the public and the other official directives.

“In conclusion, we suggest that the government should continues the provision of the palliatives for the vulnerable and the old in the society.

Again, the government should from here on ensure that all health experts directives are strongly enforced including the assemblages in banking halls and the ATM points across the state.

“Finally, we congratulate the governor and his government on the successful performance in government since about one year now. We in LP commend and salute the governor as he approaches one year in office.

“Of course, the governor should be very comfortable over his successes in government. In his approach to the celebration of his one year in office , the leadership and members of Ogun State LP congratulate the governor for his highly delightful performance in office,” he stated.

Meanwhile, he affirmed the party commendation of the state government in her efforts in arresting the spread of COVID-19, and for her very visible performance at arresting further spread of COVID-19. We, in Ogun State LP says ‘a sincere well done and a big thank you’ to the state governor.

“True enough you have demonstrated beyond doubt that you are really conscious of the fact that you are elected to make decisions including ones that are hard.

“You have openly demonstrated a great capacity in trying to reduce the spread of the virus in Ogun State. And it is also true that a large number of the citizens in the state are unintelligently trying at most times to be uncooperative with your efforts threatening all your efforts with maybe, probably unintended negative consequences,” he hinted.