Politics

Former Gov: Any Governor Complaining About Insecurity to the FG is Either Lying or Incompetent.

Published

1 year ago

December 8, 2024

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.

Politics

Electoral Reform: Dino alleges senate’s plot to rig 2027 election

Published

13 hours ago

February 6, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

Former lawmaker, Dino Melaye Esq, has raised concerns over the Senate’s reported rejection of the electronic transmission of election results.

The move, according to Melaye, is a clear endorsement of election rigging and an indication of a sinister plan to rig the 2027 elections.

In a statement on Friday, the former lawmaker criticized the Senate’s decision, stating that it undermines the credibility of the electoral process.

The African Democratic Congress, ADC chieftain, also stated that the move opens the door for electoral manipulation and fraud.

He further warned that the rejection of electronic transmission of results is a step backwards for democracy in Nigeria.

Melaye called on lawmakers and citizens to stand up against “this blatant attempt to undermine the will of the people and ensure that future elections are free, fair, and transparent”.

Politics

Electoral Act: Nigerians have every reason to be mad at Senate – Ezekwesili

Published

16 hours ago

February 6, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

Former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has said Nigerians have every reason to be mad at the Senate over the ongoing debate on e-transmission of election results.

Ezekwesili made this known on Friday when she featured in an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Morning Show’ monitored by DAILY POST.

DAILY POST reports that the Senate on Wednesday turned down a proposed change to Clause 60, Subsection 3, of the Electoral Amendment Bill that aimed to compel the electronic transmission of election results.

Reacting to the matter, Ezekwesili said, “The fundamental issue with the review of the Electoral Act is that the Senate retained the INEC 2022 Act, Section 60 Sub 5.

“This section became infamous for the loophole it provided INEC, causing Nigerians to lose trust. Since the law established that it wasn’t mandatory for INEC to transmit electoral results in real-time, there wasn’t much anyone could say.

“Citizens embraced the opportunity to reform the INEC Act, aiming to address ambiguity and discretionary opportunities for INEC. Yet, the Senate handled it with a “let sleeping dogs lie” approach. The citizens have every reason to be as outraged as they currently are.”

Politics

Electoral act: Senate’s action confirms Nigeria ‘fantastically corrupt’, ‘disgraced’ – Peter Obi

Published

16 hours ago

February 6, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has condemned the Senate’s refusal to make electronic transmission of election results mandatory, saying the move further exposes Nigeria as a fantastically corrupt and disgraced country.

Obi expressed his views in a statement shared on X on Friday, where he accused lawmakers of deliberately weakening Nigeria’s democratic process ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He explained that his reaction came after a brief pause to mourn victims of a deadly tragedy in Kwara State, where over 150 people reportedly lost their lives.

“Let us first pray for the souls of the innocent Nigerians lost in Kwara. That painful incident is why I delayed responding to the shameful development surrounding our electoral system,” he wrote.

Describing the Senate’s decision as intentional and dangerous, Obi said rejecting mandatory electronic transmission was not a simple oversight but a calculated attempt to block transparency.

“The Senate’s open rejection of electronic transmission of results is an unforgivable act of electoral manipulation ahead of 2027,” he said.

According to him, the action strikes at the heart of democracy and raises serious questions about the true purpose of governance in Nigeria.

“This failure to pass a clear safeguard is a direct attack on our democracy. By refusing these transparency measures, the foundation of credible elections is being destroyed. One must ask whether government exists to ensure justice and order or to deliberately create chaos for the benefit of a few.”

The former Anambra State governor linked the post-election controversies of the 2023 general elections to the failure to fully deploy electronic transmission of results, insisting that Nigerians were misled with claims of technical failures.

“

The confusion, disputes and manipulation that followed the 2023 elections were largely due to the refusal to fully implement electronic transmission,” he said.

He added that the so-called system glitch never truly existed.

Obi compared Nigeria’s electoral process with those of other African countries that have embraced technology to improve credibility, lamenting that Nigeria continues to fall behind.

“Many African nations now use electronic transmission to strengthen their democracy. Yet Nigeria, which calls itself the giant of Africa, is moving backwards and dragging the continent along.”

He criticised Nigeria’s leadership class, saying the country’s problems persist not because of a lack of ideas but because of deliberate resistance to meaningful reform.

“We keep organising conferences and writing policy papers about Nigeria’s challenges. But the truth is that the leaders and elite are the real problem. Our refusal to change is pushing the nation backwards into a primitive system of governance.”

Warning of the dangers ahead, Obi said rejecting electronic transmission creates room for confusion and disorder that only serves the interests of a small group.

He also recalled past remarks by foreign leaders who described Nigeria as corrupt, arguing that actions like this continue to justify those statements.

“When a former UK Prime Minister described Nigeria as ‘fantastically corrupt,’ we were offended. When former US President Donald Trump called us a ‘disgraced nation,’ we were angry. But our continued resistance to transparency keeps proving them right.”

Obi warned that Nigerians should not accept a repeat of the electoral irregularities witnessed in 2023.

“Let there be no mistake. The criminality seen in 2023 must not be tolerated in 2027.”

He urged citizens to be ready to defend democracy through lawful and decisive means, while also calling on the international community to closely monitor developments in Nigeria’s electoral process.

“The international community must pay attention to the groundwork being laid for future electoral manipulation, which threatens our democracy and development,” Obi stated.

He concluded by expressing hope that change is still possible if Nigerians take collective responsibility.

“A new Nigeria is possible but only if we all rise and fight for it.”