By Princess Simon (Bureau Chief North Central, in Minna)
Ahead of the 2023 Presidential election, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger state has subtly endorsed the candidature of former Lagos State Governor and National leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, assuring him that Nigerians behind him in his quest for President.
Governor Bello made the declaration when he played host to the APC Chieftain in government house, Minna on Thursday, describing Tinubu as the only candidate that fits the needs and aspirations of present-day Nigeria.
“Lagos is a country within a country. We saw the foundation you laid there, we are looking forward to seeing you replicate it for Nigeria”, Governor Bello said as he appreciates the former Lagos State Governor for empathizing with the government and people of Niger state.
Bello lamented the security situation in the country generally, adding that nowhere is safe. He recounted how some villagers in Mashegu Local Government Area were murdered in cold blood by the armed bandits inside the mosque while observing their early morning prayers.
"Where are we safe in this country?", the Governor rhetorically asked, adding that, “In a place of worship, people have been killed. We are not dealing with normal human beings, but people whose heart has been cemented for evil and no amount of talking or dialogue can change them.
“Only recently, they went to a village while they were observing their early morning prayers, locked the door and started shooting indiscriminately, killing 18 people and only those that forced the door open survived. And few days later, they did same in another village”.
Governor Bello said the time has come for Nigeria to change its approach in the on-going was against armed banditry, terrorism, and other forms of criminality from conventional warfare to a technologically driven approach for expected results.
“Since we are not fighting conventional warfare, let's use technology even though it is expensive, the trend can be checked. The era of sending soldiers into forests when we can deploy drones to monitor movements of bandits and hit targets effortlessly should have been over”, governor Bello stated.
Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu had earlier enjoined Nigerians not to see the on-going security breaches as a hopeless situation, noting that, with self-belief, prayers and determination, the situation can be remedied.
Nigerians have hope that they can turn the seemingly impossible situation around for good by winning the war against criminal elements threatening the peace of the country as no government wants strife to derail her.
“We share in your grief as a people and government. I am here for the people of Niger state, hearing and reading of disasters, armed bandit attacks and cattle rustling every day, just like what happened on Wednesday again”, Tinubu said, while announcing a donation of N50 million to those affected by the rampaging banditry attacks in the state.
Tinubu who also visited former Military Head of State, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, was accompanied by Senator Abu Fari from Katsina state, Hon Ibrahim Abdullahi, a member House of Representatives, representing Niger state and Hon James Falake representing Ikeja Federal Constituency, Lagos State. NNL.
