Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima has reiterated the current administration’s resolve to frontally tackle all security challenges bedeviling the country.
He gave the assurance on Monday at the public presentation of a book written by a seasoned Nigerian Journalist, Mr Babajide Kolade-Otitoju, titled: “My life and Journalists Hangout.”
The Vice President told the gathering that President Bola Tinubu is worried about the precarious security situation in some parts of the country and he is doing everything possible to address it.
“Be rest-assured that the issue of security being highlighted is receiving the hottest and topmost attention form President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I am not playing politics. I am telling you the naked truth that we are very much concerned and we are very much worried because the essence of governance is to provide security for the lives and properties of the citizens.
“The President is very much concerned and he is leaving no stone unturned to see that the issue of security of lives and properties of Nigerians are frontally addressed,” he said.
VP Shettima used the opportunity to praise the effort of the author of the book in his chosen field of Journalism.
“Babjide Otitoju we are proud of you for standing for truth, justice and equity. Today, as we celebrate your 60th birthday and the public presentation of your book; my life and journalists hangout, we honour the substance you have poured into those years.
“We honour a craft you have dignified, a platform you have elevated and a tradition of physical engagement you have helped nurture in our country. We also honour your decision to write, to document, to remember and to leave behind a record of a life of service to humanity,” the Vice President stated.
Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Governor of Kwara State, Abdulrazaq Abdulrahman, praised Mr Otitoju for being objective in the discharge of his duties.
Support for Military
Governor Abdulrahman, who commended the Nigerian media for always supporting democracy, also appealed for support for the military as they address security challenges.
He announced a donation of N200m on behalf of the Governors of the 36 States of Nigeria, for 36 copies of the book.
Speaking earlier, the author of the book, Babajide Otitoju, said he was literally forced to write the book, and pledged to write another one.
He used the opportunity to call on President Tinubu to urgently address the problem of insecurity in some parts of the country.
“I am calling on the government to please address the problem of insecurity so that our people can move around and go to their farms. The insecurity is de-marketing the government of the day and I hope that we can get a rapid and quick solution to this problem.
“This is my message to the President and the Vice President is here. Let us do our best because it is the biggest problem that we have to solve. As I wish good health for my country, I want the government to address that problem of insecurity in the best way that it can so that we can all live in a happy Nigeria.
“Whatever the government achieves even in the area of the economy, people will keep pointing at insecurity. That is why that problem has to be addressed frontally and solved and I am confident that that solution will come sooner than later because I am a believer in this government,” the author stated.
The Highlight of the event was the unveiling of the book written by Mr Otitoju in celebration of his 60th birthday.
Dignitaries that graced the occasion included the Governors of Kwara, Borno, Taraba, Kogi, Adamawa, and the Director General of Voice of Nigeria, Malam Jibrin Baba Ndace, among others.