Speakers canvass state police to check insecurity

Okowa harps on citizens’ collective unity
Conference of Speakers of state Houses of Assembly, at the weekend, lamented the current insecurity in Nigeria, noting that the establishment of state and community police will save the country from banditry.

Speakers of the 36 states of the federation, who converged on Asaba, Delta State, stated this in a communiqué released at the end of its second quarter general meeting and endorsed by its Chairman and Speaker, Bauchi State House of Assembly, Hon. Abubakar Suleiman,

They said when major stakeholders use the ongoing review of the constitution to support and accommodate community policing and state police, normalcy would return to the country.

The communiqué restated that state and community policing would help to effectively police all parts of Nigeria against criminality.

While commending Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, for hosting the meeting, they applauded the state government for being in the for front to implementing financial autonomy of the legislature.

The speakers also commended other governors that have commenced implementing financial autonomy for the legislature in their states and urged others to follow suite as agreed in the Memorandum of Action signed by all stakeholders.

They also urged the state Houses of Assembly to pass their Funds Management Bill for their governors’ assent within the 45 days as agreed to by all stakeholders.

BESIDES, Okowa urged Nigerians not to compromise the country’s unity, saying Nigeria’s strength relied on citizens’ collective bond.

Okowa, who stated this at a banquet for Conference of Speakers, said the country was facing serious challenges that required leaders to preach hope to the people and ensure that Nigeria’s unity was not compromised, advocated dialogue on how to ensure fairness and equity in governance.

He further stressed the need for leaders to give hope to the people, saying if leaders begin to lose hope in the nation, the followers would be in trouble, adding that at critical times, as is currently prevailing in the country, people in sensitive positions, and lawmakers should help to build the nation.

“In these trying times, we must ensure that we continue to give hope to our people and that we continue to do what we can, even in our various constituencies, because a little hope can encourage those who would have felt helpless.

“We need to continue to pray for our country and we need to realise that Nigeria’s unity is important to us and we will continue to do everything necessary and stay focused in doing those things that will keep this country united,” he stated.