Governors across states in the country yesterday marked Democracy Day with renewed pledges to strengthen governance, security, unity and democratic values.
BY FELIX IGBEKOYI, Asaba, KHALID IDRIS DOYA, Bauchi, Ibrahim Obansa, Lokoja, AZA MSUE, Kaduna, Abdullahi Olesin, Ilorin, ATTAH ANTHONY, Jalingo , AZA MSUE, Makurdi and ACHOR ABIMAJE,Jos
No Negotiation With Terrorists, Plateau Gov Vows
Plateau State Governor Barr. Caleb Mutfwang has declared that his administration would not negotiate with terrorists or criminal elements, but would sustain ongoing security operations to restore lasting peace across the state.
Mutfwang made the declaration yesterday in Jos while speaking during a Democracy Day Town Hall Meeting, where he also highlighted key interventions of his administration in agriculture, water infrastructure, security and social services.
He maintained that engaging or negotiating with criminals remained off the table, stressing that security agencies must continue to take decisive action against perpetrators.
“Negotiating with criminals is not an option. We will continue to push them out of our communities,” he said.
The governor said his administration had intensified security operations across the state in collaboration with security agencies, community leaders and traditional institutions, noting that the strategy had begun to yield positive results in affected areas.
He explained that coordinated security operations had led to the arrest of several suspects linked to violent attacks, adding that the arrests were already opening new lines of investigation and providing useful intelligence to security agencies.
Mutfwang said ongoing investigations were helping to uncover wider criminal networks behind some of the attacks, while government continued to support security agencies with logistics and intelligence gathering.
He assured residents that although security challenges would not be resolved overnight, government remained determined to sustain operations until lasting peace is achieved across Plateau State.
Mutfwang also called for stronger collaboration with traditional rulers, religious leaders and community stakeholders in peacebuilding efforts.
Stay Resolute In Guarding Democratic Rule, Gov AbdulRazaq Urges Nigerians
Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, yesterday urged Nigerians to remain resolute in safeguarding the nation’s hard-earned democracy.
The governor gave the charge in a Democracy Day message posted on his official page.
“My message to Kwarans and fellow citizens across the nation is to stay resolute, guard our hard-earned democratic struggle jealously, and work together to defeat the forces threatening our peace, security and development,” he said.
AbdulRazaq paid glowing tributes to the heroes of the struggle for the restoration of civil rule in Nigeria.
“We remember Chief MKO Abiola, widely accepted as the symbol of that struggle, and other patriots who paid the supreme price. The ultimate satisfaction is that we have remained steadfast on this democratic journey for 27 unbroken years despite the challenges,” he said.
AbdulRazaq restated the commitment of his administration to entrenching democratic ideals and extending the dividends of democracy to all citizens.
