ABUJA (Sundiata Post) – Senator Garba Musa Maidoki representing Kebbi Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly has said that the state Police is an excellent idea, but he will not support it because, like the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC), the governors will hijack it.
He stated this on Wednesday while fielding questions from newsmen shortly after the plenary at his National Assembly office Abuja.
Reacting to whether he does not think State Police is the solution to the insecurity in the country, Senator Maidoki said: “If you allow state police, what is the likelihood that it will not be like they are controlling State INEC? They have not given us confidence that they can hold elections without subverting the opinion of the people and their mandate. “You subvert their opinion and their mandate, you give it to whosoever you wish, then what right have you to tell us you can defend them? They said we don’t want X, we want Y. You say no, you must take X. Who are you to tell us you have mandate to defend them. You do to have that mandate! And that is the gospel truth.”
On the issue of insecurity in Kebbi State, Senator Maidoki said the state governor is spending
500 million monthly to the Nigerian Army, yet insecurity has remained unabated in Kebbi, particularly in Kebbi South.
According to him, in spite of the State Government intervention of over 500 million monthly to the Nigerian Army, yet insecurity has remained unabated in Kebbi, particularly in Kebbi South. Now, could you shed more light on this and how we can overcome these challenges?
“The truth is that we are not doubting the improvement in security, particularly in my area where I can speak authoritatively. We have full improved security. But there are still pockets of problems here and there. I told the Senate some villages in my constituency came and met me on the problem they are facing on banditry, I directed them to go and see the State Governor. They went to Birnin Kebbi unfortunately, they didn’t meet with the State Governor, but they presented their letter to the Government House.
“They came back, two weeks later, bandits enter; amongst those people who came, 12 of them where killed in their own farms. And as their representative, I feel completely responsible even though I don’t have the power on the instrument to stop the banditry and what they are expected to do, they have done it.
“They came to me, they reported this problem! They went to the Governor, they reported this problem! Unfortunately, we are not able to save their lives. So sad we went for condolence, and that is most unfortunate. And just like I said, the State Governor told us his contribution to keeping security in that area or in Kebbi State as a whole. Monetary wise, to the tune of 500 million monthly.”
“And I was asking the Senate, where is the money we passed for the Army to do their job, what is it for? Army now have to wait until the State Governor give them grant before they do their job? That is the question for Nigerians to understand and to know, and it’s sad! We appropriated money for security, and we think that money is big enough to address the problem.”
“I cannot understand why Army or any law enforcement agency, The Police, will wait for the Governor to give them counterpart funding before they undertake their job. And this is now a norm in Nigeria security system. If the police send a detachment to any constituency, if the Governor didn’t take the bills, they will not send the detachment. We don’t know whether the money we have given them is not sufficient. And if it is not sufficient, none of them came back to the National Assembly and tell us the money you gave us is not sufficient to do their job.
…bemoans a situation where Army will receive grant before doing their work
