January 20, (THEWILL) – Governor of Niger State, Abubakar Sani Bello has openly endorsed the presidential aspirations of Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos State.
Bello also tasked Tinubu on his expectations in 2023, to replicate for Nigeria, what he did in Lagos.
”Lagos is a country within a country and we saw the foundation you laid there. We are looking forward to seeing you replicate it for Nigeria”, he said.
The Governor thanked the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s chieftain, for sympathising with Niger State and its people over the incessant banditry and terrorism.
He said no where is safe in the country and recounted how some villagers in Mashegu were murdered in cold blood by bandits while observing their early morning prayers in the Mosque.
“Where are we safe?. In a place of worship, people can be killed. We are not dealing with human beings, but people whose hearts have been cemented for evil. No amount of talking or dialogue can change them.”
“Recently, they went to a village while they were observing their early morning prayers. They locked the door and started shooting indiscriminately, killing 18. Only those that forced the door open survived. Few days later they did the same in another village”, he said.
He therefore advocated that time has come for the country to change its approach to the ongoing was against banditry and terrorism from conventional warfare to a technological driven warfare.
“Let’s use technology even though it is expensive. The situation can be addressed that way. The era of sending soldiers to the forest is over. When we can deploy drones to monitor movement of bandits and hit targets effortlessly”, Bello said.
Tinubu urged Nigerians not to see the ongoing security trend in the country as a hopeless situation noting that, with self belief and prayers, the situation can be remedied.
He noted that as much as Nigerians hope they can turn the situation around by winning the war as no government wants no strife to derail it.
“We share in your grief. I am here for the people of Niger State, hearing and reading of disasters, banditry and cattle rustling every day, just like what happened on Wednesday again”, he added.
Tinubu announced a donation of N50 million to those affected by the banditry attacks.
The Former Lagos state Governor was accompanied by Senator Abu Fari from Katsina and two members of the House of Representatives, Ibrahim Abdullahi from Niger State and James Falake from Ikeja Federal constituency of Lagos State.
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