Politics
Taraba Gov Advises FG On State Police
Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State has advised the Federal Government to try state police in addressing the security challenges in the country.
Ishaku gave the advice in his remarks at a world news conference organised by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the party national secretariat in Abuja, on Monday.
The conference also had in attendance the Senate Minority Leader, Sen. Enyinaya Abaribe, and former president of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki.
According to Gov. Darius, the primary responsibility of any democratic government was to secure the people and their property.
He said the state governors were going through challenges and were helpless in managing the insecurity as they had no power over security.
“No matter how bad the state police, let us experiment it. After all, we have the State Electoral Commission. After all the state governments are running the elections of the states.
“In my state, oppositions win elections; we allow them to go, nothing is wrong we are going peacefully.
“ So, who is telling me that the State Police will fail? Let us try and let it fail, then we will reverse, but not trying at all does not give us anything different. We will still continue where we are.
“ In any case, in a country of over 200 million people, how can you expect the management of police to be at the center?
“Our constitution was copied from USA, and in America you have the local police, you have the state police, and you have the national Police.
“What is greater than the local police, take it to the state police. What is bigger than the state police goes to the national police,” Ishaku said.
The governor stressed on the need to ensure that police handle issue of internal security, while the military protect the territorial sovereignty of the country, as a last resort for war.
He also advised the Federal Government to adequately train Nigeria security personnel and equip them with necessary technology and equipment.
“If my ADC cannot protect himself, how can he protect other people? You must first protect yourself as a policeman and as a military officer before you can protect other people.
“I will appeal that we should give adequate attention to equipping military forces,” he said.
Ishaku urged the ruling party to look into advice from the PDP, saying PDP is ready to give a helping hand to the APC-led government in developing the country.
Similarly, Abaribe described PDP as responsible party interested in peace and development of the country.
He said that contrary to some views that the PDP was a weak opposition, “PDP is actually a responsible opposition.”
The Senate Minority Leader explained that what people were doing was comparing PDP to the APC when they were not in power, expecting PDP to act the same way APC did.
“We are not. We had been in power before and we know the responsibilities of having power and we do not want to speak just like anybody on the street”, Abaribe said.
“So, we weigh our words, we look at the situation and we do not want to be an opposition that want to destroy rather, an opposition that wants to build,” he said.
Abaribe added that those, who wanted to destroy Nigeria, were those that refuse to manage the diversity of the country, and those actually pushing the country to precipice.
Also speaking, the former president of the Senate said the opposition party would continue to play its role in letting the government be aware of its lapses.
The Chairman of PDP Reconciliation Committee added that the PDP would continue to put pressure through constitutional means in telling government what they need to do.
“We will not get tired because when we see changes in the world, it has come through constitutional means.
“It might look like a long journey, but eventually, the true will prevail and the right thing will be done,” Saraki said.
Saraki also expressed the hope that in a short period Nigeria would start a new journey for greatness.
He advised government to listen to the people in various communities of the country, especially on the issue of insecurity.
“When we talk about security, it’s not about political party, it affects all Nigerians.
“People who are losing their lives, I am sure some of them do not belong to any political party.
“So, that responsibility of government is to all of us as Nigerians, and we are speaking on behalf of all Nigerians that the right thing needs to be done.
“We will continue to do that through conscious constitutionally agreed procedures,” the former president of the senate said.
In a recent interview, Chief Akande also said Senator Ladoja entered a no case submission for the suspects accused of assassinating the ex-Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
But the ex-governor has denied the allegation, saying old age has probably affected the memory of the former Osun State Governor to remember what happened during the period.
Senator Ladoja wondered why Chief Akande, who said he knew many things about the assassination that he would not disclose, did not tell the public what exactly surrounded the killing of the former AGF on December 23, 2001.
Senator Ladoja, next in the hierarchy to the Olubadan of Ibadan, said this when speaking with reporters in his Bodija residence in Ibadan.
Speaking in an interview with Edmund Obilo, Chief Akande suggested that Senator Ladoja might have important information about late Chief Ige’s killing.
He alleged that Chief Ige was killed by the government and described his death as a “state murder” — but never affirmed a specific person who committed the crime.
Chief Akande claimed that Senator Ladoja withdrew a case related to the murder that had initially been pursued by his predecessor, former Governor Lam Adesina.
“I was the chief security officer of Osun State at the time, not Oyo State. Lam Adesina was the chief security officer of Oyo State and he went to court and the governor that took over from him, Ladoja, withdrew the case from court. He might be able to tell you more, he might know more than I do know,” Chief Akande said.
“There are many things that die with people. I know Lam Adesina went to court over the matter, and I also know his successor, (Rashidi) Ladoja, withdrew the case. Ask Ladoja; he would know more about Bola Ige’s death”, he added.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain also expressed regret that ex-governor Adesina had confided in him about certain details he could no longer disclose.
Chief Akande noted that key figures, including the former Oyo state governor, who could have shed more light on the case, had passed away.
“Because there are many things you don’t want to tell the public. I don’t want to tell anybody. Now Bola Ige is dead, and Lam Adesina too is dead, so who will be my witness? Nobody,” he added.
Addressing journalists at his residence in Ibadan, Senator Ladoja described Chief Akande’s claims as false.
He said that the case was pursued up to the Supreme Court during his tenure, and denied ever having withdrawn any charges.
“I didn’t withdraw the case; my government didn’t withdraw any case. The case was even prosecuted till apex court, Chief Akande lied against me. This is not the first time people said he lied; someone like Baba Adebanjo even said he lied in his book.
“We are not all happy as a result of Chief Bola Ige’s death, and we are all concerned about his death. I was very close to Chief Bola Ige while alive”, he said.
In 2016, former President Muhammadu Buhari ordered that the investigation into the murder be reopened, but there has been little progress since.
Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State has signed into law the amended Cross River Local Government Law, a significant legislative milestone aimed at enhancing grassroots governance and service delivery in the state.
A statement signed by Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr NSA Gill, said Governor Otu commended the State House of Assembly for its proactive and people-centered legislative work while speaking at the bill signing ceremony which held at his temporary office in Calabar.
The governor emphasized that the amended law would strengthen representation at the grassroots level and drive meaningful development.
“In no distant time, the difference at the grassroots level will be clear,” the governor assured.
Reflecting on the political landscape, Governor Otu expressed satisfaction with the Assembly’s status as a fully All Progressives Congress (APC) legislature.
He noted that with the party now fully in control, unity and collaboration were imperative to support President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda.
In his remarks, the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, highlighted the transformative impact of the amendments.
He stated that the revised law would accelerate economic development, encourage broader participation in governance, and enhance service delivery at the grassroots level.
Some of the key amendments to the Principal Law include: Section 4(4) – increases the number of departments from seven to twelve, allowing for a more structured and efficient administration; Section 5(2) – adjustments in percentages of funds allocated to key Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to enhance effectiveness and efficiency; Section 20(1) – entrusts Vice Chairmen of councils with oversight on humanitarian affairs, peace and conflict resolution, border and boundary matters, as well as sports; Section 21, which mandates that all appointments into Executive Councils must reflect Federal Character, ensuring balanced representation.
Sections 22(3) and 22(6) – enhance the offices of the Secretary of Council and the Clerk of the Legislative Council with additional staff; Sections 22(a) and 22(b) – provide for the statutory appointment of up to 50 persons per council and introduce the role of Ward Relations Officers, who will serve as Special Assistants in each Council Ward; as well as elevation of Heads of Local Government Administration (HOLGAs) to now have the same rank as Permanent Secretaries at the state level, recognizing their critical role in local governance.
“Knowing this, stakeholders will quickly show commitment to internal security by overhauling the system if they no longer have access to police escorts”.
Speaking during an interactive session with journalists in Awka, the Anambra State capital, Mr Amamgbo said the measure would help the government develop the right strategies to tackle insecurity and make the country safe again.
“It’s either we rise together or fall together. It’s either we provide security for everybody, or we cannot have our own mini-army while everybody else dies.
“The security situation in the country currently requires a law that will make it impossible for security agents to be assigned to wealthy people,” he said.
He advocated an upward review of security votes to governors, especially in states “where insecurity has become so pronounced that people now live in fear and hardly run their businesses or sleep in peace.”
Mr Amamgbo added, “Security votes allocated to governors should not be seen as pocket money. A committee made up of well-meaning citizens, who are professionals in their various fields, should be constituted to handle the funds, ensure proper utilisation, and enforce accountability.”
He also mentioned that Anambra South was worse hit by the prevailing state of insecurity in the country such as kiddnapping, cultism and sit-at-home, among others ravaging the state.
According to him, for several years, Anambra South, particularly Ihiala, Nnewi South, and Orumba South, have been under siege by non-state actors.
“They have turned our once-thriving communities into theatres of war and bloodshed. Our people, who are predominantly traders, industrialists, farmers, and professionals, now live in perpetual anxiety, unable to go about their lawful businesses,” Mr Amamgbo lamented.
He stated that the unfortunate development had led to the destruction of businesses, economic downturn and displacement of families from their ancestral homes.
He also said that the security challenge had broken law and order, with security agencies stretched beyond their limits.
Mr Amamgbo, therefore, called on the state government to step up efforts to flush out criminals in Anambra South.
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