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Insecurity Not Caused by Poverty, Says Wamakko

17 Sep 2012

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Governor  Aliyu Wamakko


By MohammedAminu

Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko, Sunday has dismissed insinuations that the security challenges bedevilling the North is caused by poverty.

Wamakko made the assertion in an interview monitored on the Hausa service of the British Broadcasting Cooperation (BBC) in Sokoto at the weekend.

He blamed the insecurity and violence in the region on some individuals and groups that have certain views about governance.

He maintained that the security challenges was not caused by poverty, as there are some advanced countries that are still grappling with similar security challenges.

“I don’t think that the security challenge we are currently facing in the North is caused by poverty because some developed countries are also grappling with such problems,”Wamakko said.

The governor dismissed the notion that it was a northern affair, saying the issue of security challenge affects the whole country.

He recalled that the O’odua People’s Congress (OPC) and militancy in the Niger Delta had always been considered as issues that are affecting the entire country.

Wamakko wondered why it was different with the security challenge currently ravaging the North.

The governor pointed out that northern governors have been working hard to tackle unemployment and other problems, with a view to restoring peace in the region.

He expressed optimism that, with concerted efforts by all Nigerians and fervent prayers, the security challenge would be tackled.

Wamakko stated that his administration was striving hard to generate employment for the teeming youths in the state.

Tags: Aliyu Wamakko, Featured, Nigeria, Politics

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  • with all due respect Mr. Governor, unemployment results to poverty. And an idle man they say is the Devil's workshop. if you say that the security challenge is not caused by poverty then use that millions that goes into your pocket frequently to create employment and see if the security challenge will continue.

    From: CELESTINE EMENIKE

    Posted: 8 months ago

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  • It looks as if Gov Wamakko has lost reality of the situation in the North. To say that poverty is not the cause, or at least part of what is causing the psesebt situation in the north, is to say, " I really don't know what is going on in the North". Northern Governors and the so-called Northern elders contributed to the downfall of the region, because when you look at it, Northern Nigeria is the most backward region in the country. What has Wamakko done to alleviate poverty in his area of jurisdiction. How many jobs has he created for the youth, how many functioning schools, how many hospitals, how many roads. Has he ever been treated in a Nigerian hospita, or how many of his children or his next of kins attend schools in his area of administration. If Gov Wamakko insists poverty is not the cause of upheavals in the North, then what is the cause. To me Wamakko is simply re-stating the Hausa saying which goes like this: "Dutsen dake ruwa bai san ana rana ba." The Honourable Gov is secluded in his villa without knowing the needs and conditions of his"subjects." If he does then he will definitely not say poverty is not the cause of security challenges in the North

    From: Umaru Danladi

    Posted: 8 months ago

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  • Mr. Governor seems to have made overgeneralised assumption here. And assumptions, they say, can be dangerous. As the choice to be delinquent or not is a matter of choice for individuals, it takes a sound socio-economic exposure not to fall on the wrong side of morality. This is an aspect of human reticence and resilience. The disadvantaged will become more tempted and opportunistic for very small incentive such as lacking in their being previously. As humans, we all have dreams, some become reality while some are identifiable as what they are 'dream'.
    Poverty is socially and morally an underpinning factor for criminality, such as terrorism, drug pushing and outright property crimes. With the level of unemployment and poor welfare system, Nigeria is too vast for there not to be criminality of various degrees and types - and we are not talking about 'stealing from the treasury here - that is another dimension to poverty and greed-induced crime. We are here talking about that graduate whose dream was to build a confortable abode for his/her parents as a 'thank you' for their love and struggle, or, the ones who never got through the recognised qualificational level and realised that the 'time had lapsed' for him/her to catch up with peers. To him, armed robbery or 'religious incitement to violence' is all part of the parcel. Nigeria of today has been widely exposed to ostentation and life of luxury, so moch so that the hinterland dwellers are very aware of what life is like in high places, otherwise Boko Haram wouldn't have so strong foothold in the north. Through and through, poverty is a primary determinant of insecurity as it is being experienced in Nigeria as a nation, not just in the north. Unfortunately, governmental attitude is a response of collusion - the significant players of 'insecurity' are 'bought off', with a consequence of breeding a new team. Does Mr. Governor know how many cells there are in Boko Haram or how many faction in MEND, who all would want a share of the 'contaminated national cake'? It's utterances such as this that escalate the conduct of miscreants in the country. Mr. Governor should present his statement more sensitively and very carefully. The world's watching and will wonder what our human factors are based upon.

    From: Olubunmi Ahmadou

    Posted: 8 months ago

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