*Say security top priority of govt and collective responsibility of all
Governors of Nigeria’s North West zone, on Monday, pledged to explore all available means to ensure the security of lives and property of Nigerian citizens in their respective domains regardless of where they came from and what religion they profess.
This commitment was made by Governor of Katsina State, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari, at a town hall meeting in Kaduna, organised by the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Major General Babagana Monguno (Rtd).
Governor Masari, who spoke on behalf of the Northern governors, noted that the security situation in the region has deteriorated pointing out that the governors must work to ensure peace and stability.
“It is our responsibility to ensure everyone is safe,” he said, adding that communities should be adequately involved in ensuring security.
“Everybody must be on the same page. We must go back to our communities, build community relationships and restore what was lost.
“Ten years ago, the situation was not as bad as it is today, now communal life has broken down,” he said.
However, the former Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives urged all governors in the country to take responsibility of protecting everyone, “irrespective of where they come from, ethnicity or religion”.
In his remarks, the Governor of Plateau State and Chairman of Northern Governors’ Forum, Sir Simon Lalong, urged Nigerians to learn to live in peace, irrespective of religious and ethnic differences.
“Today, on behalf of northern governors, I welcome the new service chiefs while commending those who did their best and also prayed to see the end of the insecurity in Nigeria,” he said.
On his part, Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasiru el-Rufai, noted that the high level delegation at the meeting underscored the importance which the Federal Government attached to finding solutions to security challenges in the country.
He expressed the hope that the meeting will come up with a road map to end the security challenges in the country, which has affected the economy and livelihood of the people.
Governor el-Rufai expressed concern over recent clashes in the South West state of Oyo notably Ibarapa Local Government and Akinyele Local Government, which have raised tension and agitations.
“All of us the governors are going round, talking with stakeholders to calm people down,” he said.
He noted that security should be the number one priority of government and a collective responsibility of all.
In attendance were Governors Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (Sokoto), Mohammed Bello Mutawalle (Zamfara), Mohammed Badaru Abubakar (Jigawa), Abubakar Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Nasir el-Rufai (Kaduna), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje (Kano) and Aminu Bello Masari (Katsina).
Other top attendees of the meeting included notable traditional rulers in the zone, security experts and other key stakeholders.
