An expanded security meeting between President Goodluck Jonathan,
state governors, Heads of military and Para-military organisations, and
religious leaders which was held in Aso rock villa has anonymously
condemned Governor Murtala Nyako's recent memo to the Northern Governors
forum.
Addressing newsmen after the meeting, General Aliyu Gusau,
Minister of Defence aid the meeting enjoined all holders of Public
offices to be wary of statements that are capable of exacerbating the
already precarious security situation in the country.
Governor Babaginda Aliyu of Niger
state also said, "I am sure many of you will be curious about the memo
written by one of us. We looked at it all. In fact he was allowed to
read the memo to all of us and we discussed and concluded that for all
of us, we need to be very careful with the kind of statement we make".
The meeting also tasked the military to ensure the rescue of the abducted school
girls in Chibok, Borno.
Also addressing newsmen Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State said "The
meeting agreed that the issue of the moment is Chibok and the abduction
of the children and we must do everything to ensure that the abducted
children are retrieved and rehabilitated and returned to their their
parents.
"As Nigerian leaders, the meeting agreed that it is absolutely important
for us to tackle security issues in an objective manner and with
restraint, avoiding hasty speeches, and anything that will heat up the
polity".
Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno described the meeting as fruitful and called for more investment in security.
He said the meeting also underscored the need for all levels of government to work together in fighting terrorism.
The Minister of Defence, Lt.-Gen. Aliyu Gusau (Rtd) who presided over
the media briefing, said that the meeting discussed the overall security
of the country.
He said the discussion centred on "the security operation in the North
East region, cattle rustling, kidnapping and other criminal activities
that warrant security attention".
He said the meeting concluded that the Federal Government should do
everything within its powers, with the collaboration of the state, local
governments and everybody to bring the unfortunate situation under
control.
"It was decided that security is everybody's responsibility, not the
responsibility of the government only; every citizen must be security
conscious," he said.
Governors present include Theodore Orji (Abia), Seriake Dickson
(Bayelsa), Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Kashim
Shettima (Borno), Ramalan Yero (Kaduna), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti),
Abdulazeez Yari ((Zamfara), Seidu Dakingari (Kebbi) and Tanko Al-makura
(Nassarawa).
Others are Martin Elechi (Ebonyi), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), Babangida
Aliyu (Niger), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Willie Obiano (Anambra),
Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Isa Yuguda (Bauchi), Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo) and
Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe).
Gov. Ibrahim Shema (Katsina), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Sullivan Chime (Enugu), Idris Wada (Kogi) and acting Governor of Taraba, Umar Garba also attended the meeting.
The governors of Oyo, Imo, Jigawa, Rivers, Ogun, Kano, Yobe, Edo and Plateau were represented by their deputies while only Lagos was absent.
Also in attendance were the National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo
Dasuki (rtd); the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar and
Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS), Ita Ekpeyong.
Heads of para-military agencies, including Comptroller-General of
Immigration, David Paradang; Corps Marshal of Federal Road Safety
Commission (FRSC), Osita Chidoka and Commandant-General of the National
Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSDC), Olu Abolurin, were at the
meeting.
Also at the meeting were Secretary to the Government of the Federation
(SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim and Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Jones
Arogbofa.
Ministers present included Bala Mohammed (FCT); Dr. Akinwumi Adesina
(Agriculture); Abduljelil Adesiyan (Police Affairs), and Abba Moro
(Interior); Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice,
Mohammed Adoke, SAN; and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Prof.
Viola Onwuliri
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