Joseph Bakare
North East governors have demonstrated their displeasure over rising insecurity in their states, asking president Muhammadu Buhari to act fast in the interest of the nation.
President Muhammadu Buhari, had on Monday, August 10, hosted a security meeting at the State House in Abuja, during when the state governors lamented the security situation in the North-Eastern part of the country.
Governors from the region urged Buhari to arrest the deteriorating security situation in the zone and appealed to him to address the causes without further delay.
They also lamented the rate at which more members are being recruited into the sect.
As a solution, the governors recommended that more sophisticated equipment should be provided for the Nigeria Police Force; in order to cover the manpower deficit, they said they noticed in the nation’s military.
Borno State Governor, Prof Babagana Zulum, made this position clear at the end of the meeting; they had with Buhari inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The meeting was held at a time the North East is witnessing a deteriorating security situation.
Recently, Zulum’s convoy was attacked between Baga and Munguno; while he was on a routine inspection.
The following day, multiple explosions from mortars fired by suspected Boko Haram members hit Maiduguri; the Borno State capital, leaving many injured.
Zulum, who was joined at the press briefing, by the Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, said the meeting with Buhari was a fallout of a meeting of the North-East governors held in Maiduguri on Saturday.
Zulum explained that the governors resolved on Saturday to meet President Buhari with a view to highlighting the key challenges in the region; especially the issues of security; decaying infrastructure especially road projects; cases of oil exploration in the region; and the issues of enhancing river basin development in the region among others.
The governor said, “The governors of the region have commended the efforts of the Federal Government in securing the region.
“However, we told the President that there is the need for the Federal Government to address the causes of the insurgency; which are not limited to endemic poverty and hunger among others.
“One of the causes is that of access to farmlands. People need to go back to their farmlands; people need to be resettled in their original homes so that they can restart their means of livelihood.
“This is one of the reasons the insurgents are recruiting more into the sect. Therefore, creating an enabling environment for the people to go about their normal duties will no doubt reduce the cases of insurgency.”
When also asked to comment on the recent attack on his convoy; and the controversy that ensued following his indictment of the military, Zulum said a series of meetings had been held after the attack.
The governor simply said, “We have had a series of consultations after the attack; and I think security is not only about the Federal Government.
“There is a need for the federal, state, and local governments to come together with a view to proffering solutions that will end this crisis in the region.”