Insecurity and the lazy Nigerian governors

BY ISRAEL OJOKO

Since the security situation of this country nose-dived into a catastrophic state, most of the governors have watched helplessly like an ignorant little kid who cannot stand up for himself.

It is easier to hop into a private plane and take a less-than-one-hour flight on taxpayers’ money, and head to the well-protected Aso Rock to table a complaint to the president than call your security chiefs and have a strategic plan on how to deal with issues within your territory.

Except for Rivers governor Nyesome Wike, who has on many occasions vehemently and publicly rebuffed any group causing mayhem in his state, almost every other governor has run to Aso Rock like a grownup chicken under the wings of its mother hen.

Wike, since becoming governor, has fearlessly faced insecurity challenges in his state. His dexterity has not stopped clashes and killing in Port Harcourt and environs but his guts to look into the eyes of trouble makers and issues stern warnings, has on its own reduced crime rate by the smallest margin.

I am not here to shower encomium on Wike, but he is the closest example and reference I can point to for these other ‘miliki’ governors who always want to be spoon-fed from the pot or feeding bottles in Aso Rock.

I recall President Muhammadu Buhari’s interview on Arise TV where he revealed that Lagos state governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, after the #EndSARS protests in October 2020, made a photo album to present to him in Aso Rock. Really? So a whole governor is so jobless that he traveled all the way with his entourage to Abuja, just to present a photo album to the president? I so much love the reaction of Buhari. He said, “I just collected the thing (album) and dropped it somewhere, I didn’t even look at it”.

Buhari’s revelation is coming about eight or six months after Sanwo-Olu’s photo album presentation visit, and the President has not even looked at it, and there is every possibility he may not look at it until he leaves in 2023. What a waste of time and resources.

Meanwhile, that was the umpteenth time the governor would head to Aso Rock regarding #EndSars. I am not surprised though, his naivety was exposed during that dreadful protest.

What was the purpose of the album presentation? To collect huge federal allocation to rebuild? If so, then what is the essence of the federal government delegation, that included former governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, who visited scenes and discovered a hidden secret camera which brought about the infamous ‘Agent Fash’ mantra? Was this inspection a waste of time too?

Back to the interview on Arise TV, I am not surprised about President Buhari’s comment telling state governors to wake up and not sit idle watching killer herdsmen, bandits, kidnappers, and unknown gunmen burn down their states to ashes.

In fact, I am glad that Mr. President echoed an opinion I wrote on this platform published on May 17, calling on governors to roll up their sleeves and take the bull by the horn. This is the right thing to do instead of running to Aso Rock at every slight issue, like that shy baby who can’t defend himself.

Northern states governors have come together and journeyed themselves to Aso Rock. As old as they are, they cannot put heads together and solve security issues bedeviling the north for many decades. Rather, they came together to go to Abuja and report to the president what he already knew. Waste of time and resources.

The case is not different in the east, Hope Uzodinma of Imo state himself may have lost count of the number of times he has visited Aso Rock on insecurity issues. If running to Abuja is the solution to insecurity, I am sure Boko Haram would have been history by now. But they are there, waxing stronger, and gaining more grounds.

The visit of Seyi Makinde of Oyo state to Aso Rock in January did not prevent the killing of at least 20 Igangan residents who were butchered like animals.

I am happy that Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom is now tired of going to Aso Rock, perhaps he is no more welcomed there. At least he can now think internally and fix the problems he was voted to handle.

“You know these people more than I do, and you are democratically elected to protect your people. Don’t sit idly expecting me to do everything, take action.” is the best response Buhari could give these governors.

Governors must understand that they are not voted to go merry in that office. Governorship today is real work and if you’re not ready for work, do not show up.

Also, electorates should wake up and vote for governors who have guts and can manage tough situations. Politics in Nigeria today is no more a ‘come-and-chop’ thing, it is real work that must be done. Residents must be protected and feel safe to go about their daily lives. They must enjoy basic amenities like electricity, good roads, functional health and education systems, clean water, and many more in a safe society.