Ekwutosblog has gathered that Former Governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, has sharply criticized his fellow governors who place the blame for security challenges in their states squarely on the Federal Government.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony for the Executive Intelligence Management Course 17 at the National Institute for Security Studies in Abuja, Aliyu emphasized that no competent governor should “cry” to the center for help whenever there are security concerns within their jurisdiction. His remarks come amidst growing security concerns in several Nigerian states, where governors have often appealed for federal intervention.

Aliyu argued that governors must take responsibility for security within their states, as they have access to resources and intelligence reports that can help mitigate security threats. “No competent governor should cry to the center anytime there is a security challenge,” he stated, adding that governors are in a position to take proactive steps to address insecurity on their own. He further questioned the actions of governors, particularly regarding how they utilized the security votes allocated to them and how seriously they acted upon security reports from agencies like the Department of State Services (DSS).

The former governor shared his own experience during his tenure as the governor of Niger State, where he said he closely worked with the DSS. He revealed that he personally reviewed security reports daily, and that the DSS played a crucial role in his administration’s ability to tackle security threats, especially banditry. Aliyu credited the DSS with advising him to hire a helicopter to patrol the state’s borders, a recommendation that he followed and found to be effective in combating insecurity. His message to governors was clear: “If any governor complains to you that he’s not in charge of security, he’s either a liar incompetent or does not know what he’s doing.”

Aliyu also pointed to the misuse of security votes as a potential issue. He asked, “Why the security votes? Where does it go if you have to complain to the federal government?” Security votes are funds allocated to state governors to assist in the maintenance of security, and Aliyu implied that if governors are still blaming the federal government despite receiving these funds, it suggests a lack of accountability or proper utilization of resources. He highlighted that during his time as the chairman of the Northern Governors Forum, some governors failed to take responsibility, even going so far as to delegate security matters to others. He urged governors to take security seriously by engaging directly with their security agencies, reading reports, and acting decisively.

In addition to his comments on security, Aliyu also weighed in on the Tax Reform Bills that have sparked debate in Nigeria. He took aim at critics of the reforms, many of whom, according to him, had not taken the time to read the details of the bills. Aliyu called for a more thorough public understanding of such policies, criticizing both the lack of proper communication by the government and the general ignorance surrounding the reforms.

He pointed out that some of the opposition to the tax reforms could be due to a failure by the government to adequately explain the policy and its potential benefits to the public. He stressed that “the government should speak more,” especially since a large portion of Nigeria’s population may not have access to full information about new policies due to literacy challenges.

Aliyu’s remarks underscore a broader critique of leadership and governance in Nigeria, particularly regarding the responsibilities of state governors in ensuring the safety and welfare of their citizens. His comments also touch on the importance of transparency, accountability, and communication, urging government officials to take ownership of their roles rather than shifting the blame onto others.