Declaring state of emergency will overstretch security agencies, says Masari

GOVERNOR Aminu Masari has said only collective and concerted efforts of Nigerians, not declaration of state of emergency,  can help address the rising insecurity plaguing the nation.

Masari urged  Nigerians to view the security challenges beyond partisan politics, adding that it is a national concern.

The governor said this in reaction to one of the resolutions of the House of Representatives, two days, that asked Presiden Buhari to declare a state of emergency over insecurity in Nigeria.

Masari faulted the resolution while after meeting with the Chief of Staff, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, at the Presidential Villa today.

He  noted that declaring a state of emergency will overstretch the efforts of security agencies.

He said, “It cannot, because how can state of emergency solve the problem? You have a situation where the military are in all the states of the federation, then you ask yourself, how many do we have? Are we not overstretching them?” he asked.

“So, the reality is that the responsibility of securing this country is ours — all of us. We have a role to play, and we must play it for the sake of the country and for the sake of our children and grandchildren, not for the sake of the persons that are in office.

“I think we have to understand that whatever we do to restore security today, we are not doing it for one particular person or group of persons, but we are doing it for all of us, for the country and in fact, for Africa. A stable Nigeria means a stable sub-Saharan Africa.

“So, I think we better be serious about this issue of security. If you say set up state of emergency, what do you do? We have the same people, the same security agencies, the same capacities, and the same resources. So, what are we talking about?

“We have a problem that everybody has a role to play; we better play it. The security situation of this country is beyond partisan politics. It’s a national concern for all of us — every responsible person in this country.”

Asked about the state of security in his state, he said the situation is improving.

“We’re hopeful that working together with the security agencies and the responsible people and also the repentant bandits, we’ll be able to have our state back to normalcy,” he added.