Fayemi, Bagudu Meet IG, Baba Over Insecurity

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The Chairman of Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Governor of
Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and his Kebbi State counterpart, Mr.
Abubakar Bagudu, who is also the Chairman of the Progressive
Governors’ Forum, yesterday met the Acting Inspector-General of
Police, Mr. Usman Baba, to seek ways of partnering the police in
tackling the security challenges confronting the country.

At the meeting, the IG said the police with the support of the
governors would “surmount the insurmountable”.

The state chief executives said they were at the Force
Headquarters to congratulate the IG on his appointment and
commiserate with him over attacks on police formations and loss of
police personnel.

The duo said the visit was also aimed at seeking ways of
partnering the police high command to tackle the raging insecurity
across the country.

“It’s a routine visit; we haven’t had the opportunity to see the
new acting IG, since he took over.

“In addition to that, the police have been of tremendous
assistance to many of us, as state governors and chief security
officers. So, it stands to reason that if you have any reason to be
in Abuja, and we have the opportunity to meet the Inspector-General
police, particularly someone just coming into the office, you
shouldn’t be too surprised to see us visiting at a time that the
country is also experiencing a number of security challenges”,
Fayemi said.

“So, apart from coming to congratulate him, we are also here to
extend our own condolences over the loss of personnel in this
unfortunate development across the length and breadth of the
country.

“These are people who have put their lives on the line so that
the rest of us can be secure and safe. So, we are here as
governors, both chair of governors’ forum and my colleague chair of
progressive governors to express our condolences to the IG and
exchange ideas with him on how to stem the tide of insecurity in
our country”, he said.

He said the governors had provided support and would continue to
support the police in terms of funding, provision of equipment in a
symbiotic arrangement.

In his remarks, Bagudu said the police needed the support of the
citizenry to succeed.

“We need to appreciate our security agents because they are
doing a wonderful job. They are all over the town, working hard to
keep us safe, under different conditions and logistics challenges
and sometimes, behavioral because a lot of us expect them to do
magic.

“We need to support them, we need to appreciate their needs. So
my message is to appreciate what our security agencies are doing.
And also, all of us as citizens ask ourselves, how can I help? How
can I support them? I believe with information, sometimes, logistic
issues, we can all help”, he said.

The governor maintained that “it’s very key for all of us to
support the police.”

Speaking to journalists after the meeting the Acting IG said
with the support of the governors, the police would surmount the
security challenges facing the nation.

“We are going to surmount the insurmountable. With the support
from the governors, we will be more dedicated. It is an
encouragement that will make us to work and we dedicate ourselves
to the nation. The support is the best we can get from our
leaders,” he said.