Hello,

How are you doing? Have you taken your COVID-19 vaccination? If not, we still have vaccines available in Oyo State, please visit a Primary Healthcare Centre and get your jab.

As the month of October draws to a close, we have another opportunity to reflect on our activities. In fact, I always encourage people to schedule this monthly review. It is a good time to look at achievements, take lessons from failures, and set new goals. And particularly, this month calls for sober reflection. For me, October holds special memories.

About a year ago, I lost my dear Mama Seyi. I still miss her very much with every passing day. Anyone who knew us would tell you that we did not always agree on everything. Sometimes, she wanted things done in a particular way, but I felt it was better to do it in another way. People would say the source of most of our conflicts was that we had the same personality type. But despite these conflicts, I loved her to the very end.

This week, I am taking time to reflect on loss. Although the loss of life is inevitable – our loved ones grow old, sometimes they get sick and they die – but sometimes, loss is avoidable. Our actions as individuals or as a group can lead to regrettable loss of life.

I remember being asked during an interview what the lowest point of my second year in office was. I said then that it was the needless loss of lives during the End SARS protests. Yes, the Judicial Panel of Inquiry into Police Brutality have completed their sittings in Oyo State and we are awaiting their recommendations. But the truth is, no matter what we offer in compensation to the families of those who lost their loved ones, it can never replace these dear ones.

I will always defend everyone’s right to protest. I think it’s a fundamental right that we must allow in a free society. Yet, I would always implore that in our quest for justice, we do not allow things to degenerate. I prefer peaceful resolutions of issues to violent protests which are disruptive and lead to the destruction of lives and property.

But sometimes, even peaceful protests escalate to violent ones. And this is why the citizens need the cooperation of the authorities when they are protesting. Of course, it is almost impossible to get the backing of the government during a protest which is most likely against either a policy or action of the same government. This takes us back to the need to elect humane leaders. For what is true democracy if not to understand that we can disagree with what people are saying and still defend their right to express their opinion. 

So, as we memorialise our loss at this time, I urge us to reflect on what this loss stands for. On a personal note, I remember a woman who despite human flaws had a good heart and taught me to reflect goodness and justice in my dealings with others. And as the Governor of Oyo State, I reflect on the truncated futures of young ones and the policemen who were killed during the October 2020 protests. I pray for peace and understanding among all and will continue to work towards building a society where no one will be a victim of injustice because of their age, sex, background, job, tribe, language or political and religious affiliation.