…says ‘I went to Govt House to stop Akeredolu’s, Ajayi’s aides from fighting’
Ondo State Police Commissioner, Salami Bolaji, says he went to the Government House, Akure, to prevent the aides of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and those of his deputy, Agboola Ajayi from engaging in fisticuffs and causing a breakdown of law and order.
He said this was why he had to prevent Ajayi from leaving the Government House in official vehicles.
A video trending on Social Media showed the Police boss stopping Ajayi from leaving the building.
Ajayi was heard asking the police commissioner if he was a police officer or a member of a political party.
But the Ondo police boss said he’s apolitical and his job entailed protecting lives and property of citizens of the state.
Salami in a statement by the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Tee-Leo Ikoro, explained that he went to the Ondo State Government House on Saturday night because policemen on ground could not settle the dispute between aides of Governor Akeredolu and the deputy governor.
He said he was informed that the aides of both the governor and his deputy were having a face-off over the number of cars the deputy could move out at night.
Salami stated that under his policing architecture, he would never allow lawlessness in the state against laid-down policing rules.
He said he viewed the viral video as an attempt to arouse sentiment and misunderstanding in the state.
He said he went to the scene when his officers and men at the government house could not broker peace between the aides of the governor and that of the deputy governor over the number of cars the deputy governor would drive out at the time.
According to the Ondo police commissioner’s statement, “It is only necessary that his presence at the scene as the Command’s Commissioner of Police could calm frayed nerves.
“Having listened to the reason for the misunderstanding, he advised both sides to come to terms, a condition they both agreed.
“CP Salami has never been a politician all through his life and would not want to be dragged into politics.
“He vowed to police Ondo State and its people with humility. “He will not allow the ego and sentiment of any individual dictate what form of policing style he should use”.