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ABUJA – Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed has said establishing state police to maintain security at regional level is very expensive, though Governors are ready to cue behind the President in actualising it.
Recall that President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday, directed principal officers of the National Assembly to find a way of amending the constitution to accommodate state police.
But Mohammed who met with the President on Friday, to brief him on recent security challenges bedeviling his state, said the idea of State Police will make governors more responsive and responsible.
He equally said its establishment will reduce the burden of being sole provider of security on the federal government.
Mohammed told reporters, “We are very ready and we have always supported state police because it will reduce the burden on the federal government and it will make us more responsive and more responsible as state governors, although it is expensive.
“But certainly it is something that must be done because security of life and property is the main thing that you can provide. I have seen the importance of security in my state because we have had a lot of security, good situation where some micro and macroeconomic activities are going on and it has really raised the GDP of my state”.
He debunked insinuations that he was planning to defect from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), a situation that prompted his visit to the presidency.
Mohammed described himself as a core PDP member but was more interested in governance than defecting at the moment.
His response, “No, you see, it is not always right for people to be insinuating and trying to get answers where there are no questions. I have always said that I am a PDP man. I know the federal government and the importance of partnership. This is time for governance.
“Of course any governor can leave because if it is Fintiri’s decision to leave, it may not be my decision. I’m not coming here for defection, I’m coming here for governance, for partnership. I’m coming to a father of the nation to give us support and he has answered positively and that settles it.
“This is the situation. It’s an unfolding situation. PDP is still there. As my brother, you will give us kudos for what we have done in the FCT. At least you can see we are better than the big coalition….
“I don’t want to mention them because there are people I respect in that coalition. But PDP is a party that is everywhere, in every world, in every corner of the country. It has a brand that has survived over the past two decades. And our outing in the FCT where we won one out of six, and about sixteen counsellors, we are moving, certainly we have challenges of litigations,this and that, but it is So with every party.
“Even APC will have to watch their end because they are becoming big like the PDP. PDP became big and it exploded and I am not feeling lonely because I know my state, at least and my intention is to make sure I stay back, because elections are won from the polling units, elections are won locally and not Nationally”.
He hinged his visit to the presidency on the need to brief him on security situation in his state.
“I came here on behalf of the people and government of Bauchi State to see His Excellency, Mr. President, pertaining to what I know has already been highlighted in the Nigerian media space.
