SIR: There has been lots of furore on a brief comment made by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mallam Mohammed Idris regarding the security situation in the North East, and precisely in Borno State after the commotion created by Governor Baba Gana Zulum.
Let us be clear from the beginning that the minister had a duty to defend the Tinubu Administration. Let us also concede that the governor knows where the shoe pinches. So, Prof Zulum was right to raise the alarm when insurgents started to re-group and started menacing his territories.
What exactly did the minister say to warrant a vitriolic response from the Zulum camp? This is the response of Mallam Idris to the alarm raised by Zulum:
“Yes, security is indeed improving in many parts of the country even if acts of violence have not been completely eradicated. Security agencies are working round the clock to ensure that the situation in some parts of Borno state and other areas is brought under control.
Nothing in the minister’s response contradicted the assertions of the governor. There was no attempt to diminish the seriousness of the situation painted by Zulum. There was even no attempt to exonerate the Federal Government from its responsibilities!.
Commentators have criticised Zulum’s initial response without acknowledging that State Governors should have more information and better understand government operations.
Let us recall that the office of the Minister made attempts to elucidate on the issue. Mallam Rabiu Ibrahim, his special assistant, issued a statement:
“The Honourable Minister clearly acknowledged that while the Federal Government has made considerable progress in restoring peace and security across many parts of the country, some areas continue to face security challenges…His comments were intended to provide context on the progress made, not to dismiss or downplay legitimate concerns.”
At the second Spokespersons Summit organised by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations in Abuja, Idris emphasised that in today’s media-saturated world – where everyone, from PR professionals to CEOs, functions as a spokesperson, the ability to decipher, analyse, and evaluate information is no longer optional but essential.
Appearing recently on Arise TV, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, representing Ondo State, queried state governors on what they are doing with the huge security votes at their disposal. In his estimation, a governor pockets about a billion Naira monthly only to dole out N40,000 to vigilantes watching over the forests.
“So, the key point is that technology is far away from the operations at the state level. And every time when there is insecurity, you are running to the villa. Running to the villa to do what? Is the villa supposed to secure your states? Benue will come to the villa, Bornu will come to the villa, Ondo too is coming to the villa.”
President Tinubu had urged the governors to take pride in their efforts and acknowledged their progress across the states.
“There is no state we cannot visit and be proud of its development. We have better allocations now. Let me take the abuse; you take the privileges. Together, we will build a nation we are all proud of,” he said.
With huge allocations from the Federal Account, state governors should no longer give excuses on their primary mandates: to make life better for the people!
• Kareem is a Public Relations practitioner in Abuja.
