Aminu Masari, governor of Katsina, has dismissed call by the
Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) for his resignation over his stance on self
defence against bandits.
Masari said he is not the first governor to ask residents to
defend themselves against attackers, adding that the call for his resignation
is a “sheer lack of understanding” of the situation in the country.
Residents of the state have been at the receiving end of
attacks by bandits, which have led to kidnappings and killings.
Speaking during a visit to Jibia LGA, Masari said residents
of the state need to rise above meekness, and defend themselves against
bandits.
The CNG had in a statement by Jamilu Charanchi, its
coordinator for the north-west, said Masari’s call was an admission that he was
not in charge of the state and had failed in his constitutional responsibility
of providing security for its citizens, hence, he should resign.
But reacting in a statement issued on Sunday by Abdul
Labaran, his director-general on media, the governor said he will not succumb
to the “intimidation of some self-serving disgruntled elements, masquerading as
human rights campaigners by resigning”.
Masari said security is an exclusive right of the federal
government and governors only do what they can to protect their residents.
“Security is on the exclusive list of the Nigerian
Constitution, which means it is exclusively a federal government affair,” the
governor said.
“In matters of security, a governor is the Chief Security
Officer of his state only in name, because the various security chiefs working
in the state take orders not from him, but from their superiors in Abuja.
“The only things they take from governors are the financial
and material assistance (both solicited and unsolicited), which they extend to
the security institutions in the states.
“As constitutionally elected office holders, governors do
not succumb to the intimidation of some self-serving disgruntled elements,
masquerading as human rights campaigners by resigning.
“If they are found wanting in the discharge of their
responsibilities, the Nigerian Constitution has provided the protocols for
easing them out of office, and no House of Assembly is in the dark about that.
“Masari is not the first Governor to make the suggestion. In
states where the citizens do not politicise security issues, they rally round
their leaders who had similarly admonished their people.
“Therefore, to suggest that governor Masari should resign
for his patriotic candor and courage in admonition his people to wake up and
resist the bandits by acquiring arms for self-defence, betrays a sheer lack of
the understanding of the letter and spirit as well as the workings of the
Nigerian Constitution, or a motive which is anything but altruistic.”
This is not the first time the groups have asked Masari to
resign from his position as governor.
In June 2020, protesters under the aegis of CNG, took to the
streets in the state and called on the governor to resign over the frequent
attacks by bandits.
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