Insecurity: We don’t need Ministry of Northern Affairs – Aliyu

By GBENGA OLARINOYE

OSOGBO – Chairman of Northern States Governors’ Forum and Niger State Governor, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, yesterday, declared that the North did not require any special ministry to take care of insecurity in the North.

Fielding questions after delivering the fifth Alhaji Abdullateef Olufemi Okunnu annual lecture, entitled, “Breaking the Myth of Peace in Nigeria: What Next” organised by Nigeria Association of Muslim Law Students of Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife, Gov. Aliyu said creating Ministry of Northern Affairs would not solve the problem of the North.

He said: ”If the government was to create special ministry each time there was problem in any part of the regions in the country, at the long run it would not achieve any desired results.

“If people are making a point because Ministry of Niger Delta was created because of the militancy in the Niger-Delta region, I don’t think we need any special ministry for the North. All we need do is that we should articulate our position so that each government should know what to do to alleviate poverty of their people.”

Aliyu, who described insecurity in the country as terrible, noted that economic deprivation had made some Nigerians to be terrorising the country.

The governor said: “Where there is good government, there will be fewer problems and where there is bad government there will be many problems. Our leaders in Nigeria have a role to play in fighting corruption if truly we want to fight against terrorism and insecurity in the country.”

Aliyu who identified corruption as the bane of Nigeria development, argued that “except corruption is fought in the country there may not be progress and development in the country. The rule of law also needs to be promoted, so also speedy dispensation of justice because our judicial system also affect our development.”

“To achieve sustainable peace and any meaningful progress as a nation, we must deliberately fight corruption in all its ramifications; otherwise our nation is due to failure. Corruption is the harbinger to poverty, social dislocations, and generally erodes the value system of any society with attendant consequences for peace and stability.”

The Governor who blamed the judiciary for the worsen state of the nation’s security situation said “the bottom line in our search for sustainable peace in the nation is contingent upon the functionality and effectiveness of the judicial system.”

While expressing worry on the delay in dispensation of justice, Governor Aiyu said “a situation whereby a terrorist suspect ends up in the Magistrate court raises more question and answer” arguing that “the nation’s judicial system does not help the security situation in the country.”