Gov Bello Receives NUJ Torchbearer of Security Award

For security improvement across Kogi State, the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) has recognised and the State Governor, Yahaya Bello with the Torchbearer of Security Award.

Presenting the award on Saturday May 29 at the Kogi State Liaison House, Asokoro Abuja, the Chairman of the NUJ, FCT Council, Emmanuel Ogbeche noted the importance to reward diligence to duty as a means of encouraging good works, motivate and to spur the recipient into doing even more.

Ogbeche said the governor was well deserving of the award bestowed on him by his union.

According to Ogbeche, Bello has been singled out in the past by various bodies for his good works in the area of security.

In his address, he said:
“It will be recalled that on 7th February 2017 that the Nigerian Police Force recognised your impressive performance and bestowed on you the best performing governor in security 2016.

“Since then you have not looked back; you have remained consistent, forward looking, resilient and coherent in your security strategy.”

The chairman continued that at a time like this when police stations and INEC offices were being razed, cultists, kidnappers, murderers, and rapists are on the prowl, Kogi state and its borders have remained largely untouched.

In his words, the award of Torchbearer of Security by the NUJ, FCT Council, “is to say loudly and with clarity that because you have performed and because we want you to do better, to continue to ensure Kogi state and its boundaries are safe. This is not just for Kogi citizens, but for all of us that pass through that way to be confident that a state that was once ravaged by insecurity is now secure.”

With this award, he emphasised, we are saying you have done better than what you met and to encourage you to improve on what you have been able to achieve.

In his reaction, the governor, represented by his Chief of Staff, Abdulkareem Asuku Jamiu, thanked the NUJ Abuja Council for the gesture.

He said: “I sincerely appreciate this great recognition. It is one thing to achieve and another to be recognised, not just for anything else but for peace of the people of Nigeria.

“It is a great honour to be recognised by the NUJ because whatever anyone is doing, it is under your Umbrella that it can be projected for recognition.”

Bello further described the recognition as a big achievement while encouraging the NUJ to keep up the good work in securing the nation.

“Security of the nation is the responsibility of the leader but information is power because whatever information you are putting out there is what will shape the security of the nation,” he acknowledged.

He further harped on the fact that national security cannot be achieved without the media, stating that nobody is happy with the way things are now.