Michael Ufot
Governors in the Niger Delta states have accused the Federal government of Nigeria of politicizing Security agencies in the region.
These was contain in their addresses during a Public Lecture organized by the Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Kpotum Idris at Ibom Hall, Uyo Akwa Ibom State, yesterday.
According Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State, security agencies in the region get instructions from the centre which is why Governors have no control over them.
He said the present crop of Governors in the region have given the Federal government the highest level of support in terms of security, and wondered why the agitation that gave rise to insecurity in the Niger Delta region have not been addressed by the federal government.
Governor Emmanuel called on the Federal government to ensure adequate Federal present in the region, noting that the region has provided the nation's common wealth.
On his part, the Governor of River state, Nyesom Wike decried the unimaginable security threat created by the federal government due to political party affiliation.
He mentioned that the River state Commissioner of Police have not shown cordial working relationship with the state government, which according to him, is the reason why the state records some sort of insecurity lately.
Governor Wike called on President Buhari to allow the police and other Security agencies to have a cordial working relationship with state governments to ensure that lives and properties are safe in the country.
More so, the Cross River state Governor, Prof Ben Ayade explained that insecurity and crime cannot be curb in a land where hunger and starvation thrives.
He charged the Federal government to implement its planned policies of food sufficiency and job creation in the area, noting that an idle man is a potential criminally minded person.
Prof Ayade reiterated that if government will do the right thing in the region, insecurity will be stemmed.
Delta and Bayelsa states represented in the summit by the SSG and Deputy Governor, also disclosed the level of harshness shown by the security agencies to their individual states.
They urged the police to give commensurate punishment to offenders rather seeking undue gains for undeserved punishment.
The two representatives urged the police not to be partisan in the course of their duties, adding that security of lives is the fundamental right of all.
However, the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris said that the Public Lecture was organized to find a lasting solution to the challenges of insecurity in the country, reassuring that it will assist the police in understanding the different security challenges confronting the various Geo-political zones, and help articulate solutions and strategies to tackle them.
Speaking on the theme of the lecture "Insecurity :social-economic impacts and conflict resolution perspective," the IGP noted that it will afford the police the opportunity to critique the impact of insecurity on the social economic development of the country.
He called on the South-South Governors whom he described as Chief security officers of their states, to join hands in providing prompt security for the well-being of the nation.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Occasion and Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Usani thanked the Governors for their efforts in promoting peace in the region.
He charged them to do more to ensure that the region is freed from militancy and other crimes militating against the progress of the region
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