Nasarawa State governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, has called on Nigerians not to play politics with the security challenges presently confronting the nation, stressing that as a retired major general, President Muhammadu Buhari is in better position to tackle insecurity across parts of the country.
Engineer Sule made this known while appearing as a guest on Channels Television, on Friday, monitored in Lafia.
Reacting to suggestions for the federal government to hire mercenaries to help fight banditry and insurgency in the Northwest and Northeast, the governor said, he is willing to accept any idea that will restore peace in his state.
Engineer Sule however noted that when he earlier said the country needed foreign support, he was specifically referring to the developed countries of the US and Britain supporting Nigeria with technology to prosecute the war against banditry and insurgency.
The governor pointed out the type of security challenges confronting the country, particularly banditry and insurgency, are not conventional wars, with other countries like Agfanistan, taking over 40 years battling the Taliban.
He recalled that during the past administration of former president Goodluck Jonathan, mercenaries were recruited to fight the insurgency in the Northeast, without much impact as Boko Haram continues with its onslaught.
“I think if there is anybody who knows about all these, it’s Muhammadu Buhari, who rose to the rank of a Major General, who has been in the military. I don’t play politics with that,” he stated.
While expressing reservations about employing the services of mercenaries to help in tackling the security challenges in the country, Engineer Sule was emphatic in calling for foreign support in the area of technology, equipment and training of the country’s military personnel.
“This is the time for the US and Britain to support us, with technology, equipment and training of our military personnel,” the governor said.
Regarding claims by Senator Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South) suggesting that state governors are not doing enough to support President Buhari in fighting insecurity, the governor dismissed such claims, saying governors are doing everything possible to partner and support security agencies in tackling insecurity.
Engineer Sule said state governors are up to the task, supporting security agencies with logistics, equipment and ensuring that they discharge their responsibilities.
On the call for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), to zone its national chairmanship to the North Central, the governor reaffirmed his agitation for the party to zone the position to the North Central and to Nasarawa State in particular.
“The Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), remains the only legacy party yet to produce the national chairman of the party. If the CPC is to be considered, then it’s only natural that North Central Zone and Nasarawa State in particular, are also considered,” he stated.
