Ganduje: Tinubu Will Deploy Technology to Address  Insecurity

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Abdulahi Ganduje, has revealed that President Bola Tinubu will deploy technology to address the menace of insecurity in the country.

Ganduje disclosed this yesterday when a delegation of the North-central APC Elders Forum led by a former Military Governor of Katsina and Plateau states, General Lawrence Onoja (rtd), paid him a courtesy visit at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja.

The chairman also said the President would effectively manage Nigeria’s diversity, adding that the Tinubu administration would spread appointments across every part of the federation.

Ganduje said; “Pertaining to insecurity, the President has agreed to employ technology in the management of security in Nigeria, in particular our forests that have become cities for bandits.

“Mr. President is fully conscious of that; he is ready in order to make the institutions strong, the army, Air Force, the Navy, the DSS, Civil Defence, even the NIA. He is rejigging the institutions to ensure that we conquer insecurity in the country.

“The North-central geopolitical zone is a good example of unity and diversity, and coincidentally, Mr. President is the one who is an expert in managing diversities if you look at the composition of his cabinet when he was the governor of Lagos. So, the issue of tribalism is put aside, the issue of ethnicity, the issue of religion is also put aside as he is Muslim and his wife is a pastor, so he is living by example, as far as managing diversity is concerned.

“We assure you, the government has taken every step to see that all ethnic nationalities are brought in, in the management of this country.”

The chairman said the President should be commended for appointing the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, from the North-central zone.

Earlier, Convener of the forum, Gen. Onoja called on the APC-led central government to establish North-central Development Commission that will coordinate strategies for harnessing the rich agriculture, tourism, educational and human potentials of the zone.

He recalled that a few weeks ago, he led a delegation of the forum to Ganduje with a specific mission and mandate to formally endorse him as the preferred candidate of choice to lead the ruling party as the national chairman. 

Onoja added that barely one week after that exercise, the forum was vindicated by both the National Working Committee (NWC), the NEC and the overwhelming majority of party members who formally elected Ganduje as the National Chairman of the party.

According to him, “We were right in what we foresaw in you – your knowledge and wealth of experience in the art of governance as a mark of credible leadership credentials, a peacemaker and unifier. We have had no doubt you would always bring these experiences to bear on your leadership as national chairman.”

Onoja stressed that their latest visit was premised on the mutual trust and confidence they have in each other. 

His words: “Besides, as a servant leader, experienced administrator in governance, listener and peacemaker, we believe you will listen and act on our suggestions and requests as follows:

“Remember us in the zone with key appointments in federal boards, parastatals, commissions and agencies in line with the federal character principle. The North-central zone has witnessed the most prolonged state of insecurity experienced in the Fourth Republic. This has been mainly in the form of terrorist and banditry attacks, with adverse consequences on the social cohesion of the people, food security and education among others.”

The forum urged Ganduje to use his good offices to help or encourage in developing new strategies that would address the security challenges in the region once and for all.

Onoja added: “As you are already aware, the North-central zone is the home of solid mineral deposits in Nigeria and the food basket of the country. We request the government under the leadership of our party to come up with policies that will encourage our patronage of local miners instead of patronising foreigners.

“We will need a development agency such as NDDC (in the South), North, East development commission (in North-east). Similarly, we will require a North-central Development Commission that will coordinate strategies for harnessing the rich agriculture, tourism, educational and human potentials of the zone in the interest of national development.”

The forum advised that for the party to consolidate its position, the chairman should endeavour to carry every group or section along as a demonstration of transparency in his administration. 

It said this would inspire trust and confidence of Nigerians in the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, who is also the leader of the party.

The forum also implored the national chairman to deepen and strengthen the internal democracy of the party by bringing his wisdom, wealth of experience and a peacemaker to unify the party. 

The forum noted that he should do this by having in place a special peace and reconciliation committee made of trusted men and women at national and state levels with ideas/strategies to identify the challenges in the party to reconcile the differences at the various levels.