Ogun PCRC Calls For Inclusion In Government Security Template, Financial Support

By ABIODUN JIMOH, ABEOKUTA

The Ogun State chapter, Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) has called on Ogun State Government and Local Government authority to include it in their security template and assist them with logistical.
Also, they demanded for inclusion in financial support if indeed they are serious about community policing policy. Adding that events of recent times have brought fort the enormous responsibilities been shouldered single handedly by the PCRC in the past 36 years.
Ven. Dr. Samson Kunle Popoola, Ogun State PCRC Chairman in a statement expressed disappointment at government action for not inviting PCRC to the recent state government sponsored Peace Parley with critical stakeholders, which had in attendance DIG Leye Oyebade and other VIPs in attendance, held at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
Popoola in his admonition made bold to say that activities of the state PCRC in recent times have saved the state a lot of issues that would have degenerated into chaos and protests.
“Despite little or no external support, the Ogun State PCRC was recently adjudged the best in Zone 2, and the South-West PCRC has been doing excellently well in galvanising support for the police in terms of infrastructures and logistics.
“In recent time, no less than 12 new divisions and other police outposts have been added to our formations all through the efforts of the PCRC in conjunction with our traditional rulers and the Community Development Associations and CDCs.
“We will therefore continue to discharge our constitutional duties of supporting the police and continue to serve as the bridge between the police and the community,” he said.
In another development, he debunked rumour that the state PCRC has been hijacked by moneybags was most uncharitable and a total lack of knowledge of what the PCRC stands for and what it was set out to achieve.
He expressed: “Let me state here for clarity that the PCRC is not funded by the government or the police and all we have achieved is by self sacrifice and commitments of members and our patrons and supporters who believed in us and rightly so that security is everyone’s business.
“As we speak the PCRC is running two weekly radio programmes on Family FM and FUNAAB radio as a platform for members of the public to air their views and channel their complaints to the police authorities as well as constant appearances on radio and television programs in the state in our community advocacy and enlightenment initiatives.
“Ogun State has the largest membership per state in the whole federation and in the forefront of the establishment of Micro PCRC units in all the nooks and crannies of the state most of which are domiciled with our traditional and community leaders.
“I want to end by calling on our members not to be deterred or dampen by those who believes that PCRC should be their baby to use for their nefarious activities or as a tool of oppression of the masses. That will not happen under my leadership in the state.
“I salute your courage, zeal and personal sacrifices to keep our state safe and secured even during the heat of the crisis. Keep the flag of peace flying.
“To our Patrons and other critical stakeholders especially our traditional rulers and fathers, we appreciate your seed of patriotism and love for fatherland.Together we will continue to win more.
“We want to appreciate the state government for the office space we are now using at the old secretariat and occasional supports in recent past.”