Alhaji ( Dr) Ilyasu Musa Kwankwaso, a three- time commissioner for rural and community development in Kano State, in an interview with KOLA OYELERE, talks on insecurity in the country, budget padding controversy, politics in his state:
What is the best way to address the rampant cases of kidnapping, banditry and other criminal tendencies?
To tame insecurity in the country, cannot be solve alone by the federal governments but through the collective and concerted efforts of all stakeholders, the traditional rulers ,the government, as well as the entire populace in every community. Aside from the above, there is need for the citizenry to be ready to give security operatives useful and necessary information that will pave the way for security personnel to work on and effectively nip in the bud, whatever negative steps enemies of progress were cooking to cause havoc and untold hardship on innocent people.
Let us now look at the entire states in the northern axis in term of insecurity. In your view, why is the insecurity remains unabated?
I said earlier there is need for collective efforts, from all the teeming masses of the 19 northern states, first and foremast, all states in the North should forget their political differences or religion affiliations, but should be ready to rally round the federal government, headed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,to proffer positive solutions needed to confront those people that have tagged themselves as enemies of this country.
Some people wonder why Kano state been most populated in the country, was not witnessed any attack or banditry attack during the former governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, as a commissioner under him, what are the magic?
First and foremost, these are prayers and support of the entire populace, as well as all necessary steps put in place to curtailed unnecessary break down of law and orders. However, the former governor, Dr.Ganduje, during his tenure, realised then that the Falgore forest reserve in Kano, has many links to many States forest reserves in the country ,especially that of popular Sambisia in Borno State and other thick forests in Taraba, Yobe, Bauchi and even to some other neighbouring countries In other to block ,these kidnappers ,armed banditry from using routes from the Fagore forest routes ,to perpetrated their inimical activities, entered into an agreement with Nigeria Army and build a very strong camp inside the Fagore forest. By building camp for soldiers inside the Fagore forest, automatically block any kidnappers or armed banditry to launched their attack on the state or allowed them to use the forest as a hide out. Aside from that those travellers plying the roads leading to Fagore forest, were not been attacked nor been kidnapped ,because 24|7 ,Soldiers and other security operatives mounted security surveillance on the roads ,by that travellers from JOS,Kano, Kaduna and others town using the roads were safe ,because of the presence of adequate security provided by the Army ,therefore ,in a nutshell ,this are ways the former governor, Dr.Ganduje embraced to ensure that there were adequate security of life and property during his eight years tenure as governor of Kano However, it would be a big advantage for other serving governors, to tapped from this knowledge and ideas of Dr.Ganduje and this would go along way in ensuring security of life and property in their domains
Recently, ,the National Security Adviser ,Alhaji Nuhu Ribadu, held a meeting with governors from the North on ways to tackle the insecurity threatening the North ,what is your take on this
This kind of meeting held between the NSA ,Alhaji Ribadu, with northern Governors and other stakeholders was highly commendable. It is highly imperative for our governors, to shun their political differences and team up with president Bola Ahmed Tinubu ,
READ ALSO: Eba is superior to Amala — American rapper, Wale