Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, has accused certain unnamed former governors in the North-West region of jeopardizing the security alliance among states by cozying up to bandits and terrorists.
Governor Sani criticized the misguided approach taken by some governors in managing the internal affairs of their states, which he believes has contributed to the prevailing security challenges.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Tuesday, Sani recalled the collaborative efforts made by the Kaduna State Government and other neighbouring states, including Niger State, to devise a framework aimed at combating insecurity.
He mentioned the establishment of a joint committee and joint funding, which involved close coordination with security agencies such as the army, air force, and police. However, he lamented that the alliance disintegrated when certain state governors chose to engage with the bandits and terrorists, engaging in discussions, offering compensation, and negotiating with them.
Governor Sani also emphasized that the creation of state police is essential to effectively address Nigeria’s security challenges, citing the limited powers that governors currently hold over security agencies. He expressed satisfaction that almost all state governors now recognize the necessity of state police.
The governor mentioned his previous role as a senator who sponsored the bill for the creation of state police in the National Assembly. He highlighted that the bill received support from the Senate, but during the conference committee stage with the House of Representatives, it was unfortunately not successful. Nonetheless, he firmly believes that the establishment of state police is indispensable in resolving the security issues facing the nation.
He explained that the existing security arrangements in Nigeria grant governors limited authority over security agencies.
Despite efforts made to support relevant government security agencies, the governor acknowledged that significant progress has been challenging to achieve due to the limitations faced by state governors.
Therefore, he echoed the consensus among state governors nationwide, who have recognized the imperative of creating state police as the way forward.
