By; MOHAMMED KAWU, Bauchi.
Governor Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi state has sought the support of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to partner with the state and other security agencies to rid it of the heinous criminal activities that have bedeviling the state for sometimes now.
He said that the state government was disturbed by the spate of kidnappings for ransom, cattle rustling and other criminal activities in Toro Local Government Area and other forests in different parts of the state.
The Governor , while receiving theToro Local Government Council Chairman, Alhaji Danlami Abubakar Tashar Durumi led APC stakeholders and religious, traditional, youth and women leaders who paid him solidarity visit, assured them that his administration will not fold its arms and watch while crimes continuous unabated in parts of the state.
Abubakar called for communal efforts among the people by providing intelligence to security as some of the kidnappers are people living with the host communities.
“Our primary responsibility is that of providing security to the people who voted for us. This we will not compromise under any circumstances. However, Government or the security agencies alone cannot provide us the security we need. Community policing is now a must to us and everybody must contribute his or her quota in this regard”, he said.
He added, people must therefore be vigilant and willing to police their communities by providing intelligence to the relevant security agencies especially about any suspicious movements of people. That is the only way we can come in and precisely clamp down on the miscreants”.
Abubakar said that government is not unaware of the security challenges of Toro and other Local Government Areas of the state, recalling that the global meltdown that affects all oil producing nations is responsible for the economic problems in the country including that of difficulty in paying workers’ salaries.
According to him, the problem in Bauchi state was worsened by the garnishee order granted by a Court in Plateau State and used the money meant for the workers’ salary to pay off the severance gratuity of some former Local Government councilors.
On road constructions, the Governor said that contractors who got the contracts recently awarded by the State Executive Council that have made their contractual obligations that qualify them for down payment of 30% of the contractual sum for mobilization to site and commence work.
He explained that township roads construction is being pursued to ease vehicular movement and open up the state capital while the second phase of road construction will cover all strategic parts of the State especially local government areas.
The Toro Local Government Council Caretaker Chairman, Alhaji Danlami Abubakar Tashar Durumi pledged loyalty to the APC and the Governor, and expressed appreciation for what the Governor has done to the Local Government.
Danlami Tashar Durumi appreciated the award of contracts for the construction of many roads in different parts of the state including the one in his Local Government Area, as well the appointments offered his people.
Also speaking the member representing Toro Federal constituency at the House of Representatives, Honorable Lawal Yahaya Gumau assured Governor Mohammed Abubakar of their continued support to the APC administration in the state.
Gumau recalled that the 2015 electoral successes recorded by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Local Government Area was occasioned by the contributions and support of the leading APC stakeholders and major political players in the council area whom, he pointed out, were part of the team that paid the solidarity visit to Government House.
He explained that the stakeholders in Toro Local Government Area have applauded the appointments of the people who did not even support the Governor before his emergence as the gubernatorial candidate of the party, making him a team player that ensures fairness to all people of the state.
“Anybody who embraces people after elections and treats them fairly without showing discrimination is a leader that should be supported by all because he is just showing leadership by example and that is what Governor Mohammed Abubakar symbolizes, a reason why Toro local government stakeholders mandated this team to come over and pledge loyalty and support for you to seek a second term at the expiration of your first term in 2019”, Gumau stated.
The House of Representatives member thanked the Governor for chasing the kidnappers who are terrorizing the people, and appealed to him to improve the security of the communities around the Lame – Burra forest who have remained prey to kidnappers.
“Your Excellency, day-in day-out my people are being terrorized by these miscreants who fled other areas and found sanctuary in my local government. They kidnap and demand as much as two million naira from these local farmers, how can there be any meaningful economic activity if this is allowed to go unabated? Gumau queried.
He appealed to the Governor to convert the famous Teachers’ College Toro to a College of Education or School of Health Technology and settle the outstanding salary arrears of workers in the state, saying “once these are done, don’t bother coming to Toro local government area for campaign, just go and concentrate in other local government area but Toro is for you and President Muhammadu Buhari.”
