Following the rising increase in insecurity, banditry, kidnapping and killing, the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has revealed how his administration tackles the problem in the state.
The governor who appeared on a National Television on Thursday, February 18, boasted that he does not visit ‘Abuja’ for solutions to the security challenges confronting his state including the farmer-herder clashes.
Governor, Bello, said some governors in the country are not serious with their jobs as chief security officers of their respective domains.
He blasted them for always running to the President, Muhammadu Buhari, when confronted with security challenges such as banditry, kidnapping, farmer-herder clashes, communal conflicts, amongst others. He however, did not mention the names of such governors.
“I must say straight away that there are some of us that are more serious on our jobs than the other. I won’t call names, there are some of us who are prioritizing our jobs and are doing it very well in our various states and some are simply playing politics and the earlier we stop that, the better. Let’s reduce the burden of Mr. President and let’s save the lives of our people” Bello said.
Bello further revealed measures his administration are taking to curb insecurity. He mentioned that stakeholders in the state collaborate with security agencies to analyze intelligence to forestall breakdown of law and order.
In his word; “Kogi State used to be a hotbed of criminals. Kogi State is a microcosm of Nigeria but I have put a stop to communal clashes and farmer-herder clashes and all of that.
“We are corroborating, the commissioner of police, my director (of) DSS, my Army commander, my naval commander, civil defence commander, we are corroborating and they are relating very well with the citizens, they connected to the people and leadership at all levels are doing their best starting from the community leaders, ward leaders, the local government chairmen and leaders, youth leaders, market leaders, farmers and what have you. We are corroborating very well.
“So, when they provide such information, we act on it, we don’t pay lip service, we don’t pass buck, we don’t visit Abuja for solutions at all times. I don’t think there is any day I have ever visited Abuja for any solution. What I do is to sit down here (Kogi) and do my job.”
The governor also described the recent clash between some Yoruba’s and Hausa’s in Shasha market in Oyo state as most unfortunate.
“In Kogi State, we are having a heterogeneous kind of composition –religious wise, ethnic wise and various divergent backgrounds and we are handling it very well. So, I see no reasons why in some states where you have two tribes and they will be attacking each other.
“We should be able to stand up and stamp our feet on ground and put a stop to the menace. It is not needed. We (are) required to have empathy on our people, we should preach love and affection among our people and let us get involved in the governance of our states and let us get connected.
“At least before it gets to the level of burning houses, killing one another, burning livelihoods, markets and destroying our lives, we should have enough intelligence, we should be able to nip it in the bud and not allow it escalate before we are now talking of governors visiting each other, calling on Federal Government.
“For crying our loud, are we expecting Mr. President to be in Oyo State in Shasha to prevent that mayhem? Are we expecting Mr. President to carry AK-47 and be safeguarding all schools? Are we expecting Mr. President to be on the highway? We should get connected to our people and ensure they are connected with us as well and come up with solutions to solve this problem once and for all” The governor said.
