Decentralising Security is Solution to Nation’s Insecurity, PDP Govs Maintain

*Donate N100m to victims of Plateau crisis

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi and Seriki Adinoyi in Jos

Worried by the spate of insecurity across the country, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum, has called on the federal government to consider decentralising the nation’s security apparatus, including creating multi-level police.

The governors, who took the position when they paid a condolence and solidarity visit to the Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang over the recent killings in the state, donated N100 million to victims of the attacks.
Led by its chairman, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, the forum said, “We are with you, and we know you are a Nigerian par excellence and a statesman. We believe you will handle the crisis appropriately.”

Highlighting the limitations of the current security structure and the importance of engaging local communities, the governors said, “We need some decentralisation of the security apparatus so that we can enhance good governance by having good state police.”
Donating the sum of 100 million naira to support there habilitation efforts in the affected areas in the state, they also stressed the need for a united front in tackling the security challenge head on.

They further urged the federal government to look at the crisis in the state, not as sectarian or sectional, seeing that it had lingered for too long.
Mutfwang, while responding expressed acknowledged the significance of the visit at such a trying time.
He underscored the fact that insecurity has become a national issue, and the imperativeness to rebuild trust within communities, emphasising the need to see this as a collective responsibility of all and sundry.

He further expressed optimism about PDP’s role as a formidable opposition, and dedicated to delivering dividends of democracy, saying “Nigerians have always trusted the PDP, and that, for me, is enough reason to continue to do the best I can.”

Members of the Forum who joined Mohammed on the visit were Governors Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State, Peter Mbah of Enugu State, and Seyi Makinde of Oyo State.