Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello says all Nigerians have roles to play in securing the nation.
He is therefore calling on all citizens to complement government’s effort by serving as agents of security in their homes and areas of abode.
The Governor made the call in Abuja on Tuesday, while speaking to State House Correspondents, soon after he met with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa.
He said: “The current administration has done greatly in tackling insecurity. The successes of this government in addressing insecurity are under-reported and may be politically motivated.
“One of the loopholes I can see in tackling insecurity is we Nigerians ourselves. Today in Kogi State, all citizens are potential security personnel. If all Nigerians take it as their own business, insecurity would be tamed to the barest minimum.
“So, we should be ready to take on security issues head-on, we shouldn’t just be relying on the law enforcement agencies. The way we continue to hype issues of insecurity, especially our frontlines in the media will not help us. For instance, take the statistics of the insecurity issues they had in America from 2020 to date and compare with that of Nigeria, you will discover that we have just overhyped ours. I think we should downplay some of our frontlines.”
Presidential Ambition
On his Presidential ambition, the Governor said he still nurses that and would make a formal declaration at the end of the forth-coming convention of his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC.
He however said those clamouring for the zoning of the position of President to the South-East, should also consider the North-Central because according to him, Southern Nigeria has held the position more that the North.
“Concerning whether North or South, I am an advocate of capacity and ability to serve not zone. Nigeria today, we need someone who has the capacity to serve the country. If you are flying on an airplane, you don’t care who the pilot is but that person who has the experience and can fly you from one point to the other.
“Also, if you are coming from the angle of North and South divide, then let us be very fair and equitable. Let’s look into the number of years the North has held this position and the number of years the South has held it. If you add eight years to what the South has had, compared to the North, then you will know that there is injustice as far as that is concerned.
“So, if we are talking of justice, fairness and equity, we are not just looking at the eight years President Buhari will have by the grace of God, we should look at the number of years the North has had since 1999 till date and what the South has had form 1999 to date, whichever divide or argument that comes up, I perfectly fit into that.
“Well, if you’re talking of South East then you will equally talk of North Central not only since 1999, but since 1960. So what do you say of north central both the President and Vice President. So put the situation of southeast and that of north central side by side, then who is more disadvantaged in terms of the position of Presidency; Both Presidents and Vice Presidents? So if you put both sides together, then let’s do justice. And whichever way you look at it, I’m eminently qualified.” he said.
The Governor said he was in the State House to brief President Buahri on the security situation of his State.
“As usual, I came to visit Mr. President to give him an update of the situation in my area of responsibility, which is Kogi State. Yeah, like you all know Kogi state as at the time I assumed office used to be the most dangerous, let me put it that way, crime state before. But as of today with a special grace of God, Kogi State is now the safest state as far as Nigeria is concerned.
“And the President is very pleased about our performance in the state in the area of security, economy, infrastructural development, integration, peace and unity that are being enjoyed in Kogi state today. So basically, these are the briefs that I came with to see the President and he sends his goodwill message to the people of Kogi State,” Governor Bello stated.
Confidence Okwuchi
