Insecurity: Don’t Abdicate Your Responsibility, Masari Tells Buhari

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*Canvases Support For State Police

Katsina Governor, Aminu Bello Masari, has faulted President
Muhammadu Buhari on reasons for worsening insecurity in the
country.

The president had during a television interview last week
attributed the menace to failure of states and local governments
across the country to manage security issues in their respective
domains.

But citing Constitutional provisions, Masari said it was wrong
for anybody to blame states and local governments.

“It is the responsibility of the Federal Government to ensure
protection of lives and property of citizens in all nooks and
cranny of the country. When you look at the Constitution of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria, the issue of security is under the
Exclusive List. So, it is the responsibility of the Federal
Government and states can only complement and that’s what we have
always done and are still doing.

“From the local governments, we assist the police, the DSS, the
NSDC. There may be states that do not complement efforts of the
security agencies and perhaps those are the states that the
president was referring to.

“But sincerely speaking, based on provisions of the
Constitution, the blame should go to the Federal Government for the
general state of insecurity in Nigeria.”

Masari said he was 100 per cent in support of the clamour for
restructuring and devolution of more powers to states which should
also entail enhanced revenue to the tiers of government to enable
them adequately perform their constitutional roles.

According to him, the establishment of a state police would
enhance general security as the personnel will be expected to
perform their defined roles without infringing on duties of the
Nigerian police.

“The issue of a state police is part of what we are talking
about and I am for it. All we need to do is to formalise activities
of the vigilance groups and community policing and give them clear
definitions on their limits and those of the Nigerian police.

“We have the Nigerian police and the NSDC that we currently
support their operations and nothing stops a state police from
coexisting side by side with the Nigerian police.

“The issue of security is actually the responsibility of
everybody as we all have roles to play. It’s not about the
president or the governor or local government chairman or a
legislator or minister.

“These bandits and their informants have addresses. They live
within the communities and the people know them and security has no
colorations in terms of political party affiliations or
religion.

“I am also 100 per cent for restructuring and devolution of
powers or whatever you call it. If you devolve, states and local
governments will have more financial independence. We should earn
resources according to the size and economy of our states.

“During the First Republic, Emir of Kano was the highest paid
because of the state’s revenue base. What we have today as Katsina
State was a province made up of Katsina and Daura emirates. They
ran their civil service and police and prisons and judiciary then
were under the Native Authority and they did well.

“They built and managed schools. If it was done successfully
then, who says it cannot be done today? We ought to take another
look at the Constitution. With the right leadership and proper
arrangement, these things are still possible.

“There are some federal ministries with so many parastatals
under each one. How can one person as minister provide effective
oversight for these parastatals?

“We should devolve more power to the states but in such a way
that we don’t have to weaken the authority of the Federal
Government in terms of performing its constitutional
responsibilities.”