The Senator representing Bayelsa West at the Senate, Seriake Dickson has called for immediate action to address the security challenges facing the nation, particularly in Benue State.
Following a recent conversation with Governor Hyacinth Alia, Senator Dickson expressed deep concern over the ongoing bloodshed in the state and emphasised the need for concerted efforts to bring an end to the violence.
While consoling with the Governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia and the people of the State, he said ”This afternoon, I spoke with my brother, the Governor of Benue State, H.E. Governor Hyacinth Alia, and I condoled with him, the government, and the good people of Benue State, as well as the families and loved ones of those who have died in this dastardly massacre of innocent people in the state.
”I was happy that the Governor is satisfied with the cooperation and support that the Federal Government has mobilised under the direction of Mr. President.
”I have advised the Governor to cooperate fully with all security forces and to mobilise all strands of opinion to support the security efforts.”
Senator Dickson also called on all stakeholders to work together to address the security challenges facing the nation.
He emphasised the need to prioritise the safety and security of citizens and take bold steps to address the root causes of these challenges.
Senator Dickson reiterated the need for concerted efforts to address security threats without political coloration, emphasising that issues of national security, economy, and protection of our national values and democracy should unite us, rather than divide us.
”Once again, I call for concerted efforts on these matters without political colouration.
As I have always maintained, issues of national security, the economy, and the protection of our national values and democracy know no political colour.
”We should all be united in working with and supporting the Federal, State, and Local Governments to ensure that these security threats are contained, while we expedite action on state policing and an appropriate form of policing that accommodates the subnational entities, as I have always canvassed for years, ” stated
He commended President Bola Tinubu’s decision in directing security forces to be mobilised to Benue State.
”The President has directed that security forces be mobilised to Benue State, which is a good step, and the Governor confirmed it in our conversation this afternoon.
”We cannot be a nation where hundreds of our citizens are killed routinely on a daily basis.
‘:We are gradually becoming so used to the bloodletting that it no longer makes news, but this is abnormal.
”It is turning us into a nation of brutes, lawlessness, and a nation that has failed.
”I call for full federal deployment of security forces to Benue State and other states affected by this ongoing bloodletting, which is almost at a genocidal proportion, ” he said.
The senator who emphasised the importance of local government autonomy in addressing security challenges, called on the President to lead efforts to actualise the financial and political autonomy of Local Government Councils.
‘:I would also like to use this opportunity to call on the President to lead in ensuring that all Governors are brought to the table to actualise what he has rightly done by giving the Local Government Councils financial and political autonomy.
”In the end, all our communities and rural areas are in Local Government Areas, and right now, the situation is that the Councils do not have the funding, freedom, or even the required leadership to carry out their duty of coordinating communities and their leaders, and to report to and relate with security agencies.
”This is one of the problems we must solve. At the base of our nation’s political system, the local government areas , there is a lacuna: a gap in leadership and capacity to function, which is also affecting our national security.
”I hope that the President, who has already started this process with the Attorney General, will give full backing to the judgment of the Supreme Court to ensure that Council allocations are disbursed directly to the Councils across Nigeria.
”Also, the cooperation and understanding of the Governors must be obtained to ensure their total autonomy, so that Council Chairmen can also take responsibility along with the DPOs and the security officers at the local government level, who know the localities better.
”State governments should devolve mechanisms for coordinating this, just as I did in Bayelsa State,” added.
