Politics
Former Gov: Any Governor Complaining About Insecurity to the FG is Either Lying or Incompetent.
Ekwutosblog has gathered that Former Governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, has sharply criticized his fellow governors who place the blame for security challenges in their states squarely on the Federal Government.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony for the Executive Intelligence Management Course 17 at the National Institute for Security Studies in Abuja, Aliyu emphasized that no competent governor should “cry” to the center for help whenever there are security concerns within their jurisdiction. His remarks come amidst growing security concerns in several Nigerian states, where governors have often appealed for federal intervention.
Aliyu argued that governors must take responsibility for security within their states, as they have access to resources and intelligence reports that can help mitigate security threats. “No competent governor should cry to the center anytime there is a security challenge,” he stated, adding that governors are in a position to take proactive steps to address insecurity on their own. He further questioned the actions of governors, particularly regarding how they utilized the security votes allocated to them and how seriously they acted upon security reports from agencies like the Department of State Services (DSS).
The former governor shared his own experience during his tenure as the governor of Niger State, where he said he closely worked with the DSS. He revealed that he personally reviewed security reports daily, and that the DSS played a crucial role in his administration’s ability to tackle security threats, especially banditry. Aliyu credited the DSS with advising him to hire a helicopter to patrol the state’s borders, a recommendation that he followed and found to be effective in combating insecurity. His message to governors was clear: “If any governor complains to you that he’s not in charge of security, he’s either a liar incompetent or does not know what he’s doing.”
Aliyu also pointed to the misuse of security votes as a potential issue. He asked, “Why the security votes? Where does it go if you have to complain to the federal government?” Security votes are funds allocated to state governors to assist in the maintenance of security, and Aliyu implied that if governors are still blaming the federal government despite receiving these funds, it suggests a lack of accountability or proper utilization of resources. He highlighted that during his time as the chairman of the Northern Governors Forum, some governors failed to take responsibility, even going so far as to delegate security matters to others. He urged governors to take security seriously by engaging directly with their security agencies, reading reports, and acting decisively.
In addition to his comments on security, Aliyu also weighed in on the Tax Reform Bills that have sparked debate in Nigeria. He took aim at critics of the reforms, many of whom, according to him, had not taken the time to read the details of the bills. Aliyu called for a more thorough public understanding of such policies, criticizing both the lack of proper communication by the government and the general ignorance surrounding the reforms.
He pointed out that some of the opposition to the tax reforms could be due to a failure by the government to adequately explain the policy and its potential benefits to the public. He stressed that “the government should speak more,” especially since a large portion of Nigeria’s population may not have access to full information about new policies due to literacy challenges.
Aliyu’s remarks underscore a broader critique of leadership and governance in Nigeria, particularly regarding the responsibilities of state governors in ensuring the safety and welfare of their citizens. His comments also touch on the importance of transparency, accountability, and communication, urging government officials to take ownership of their roles rather than shifting the blame onto others.
Politics
Breaking: Diri Orders Autopsy on Bayelsa Deputy Governor’s Death, Warns Against Politicisation
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has ordered an autopsy to determine the cause of death of the state’s Deputy Governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.
Governor Diri gave the directive on Saturday while receiving former President Goodluck Jonathan at the Government House in Yenagoa.
Reacting to the incident, the governor condemned what he described as widespread misinformation and speculation on social media, warning against any attempt to politicise the deputy governor’s death.
“I want to make an appeal. I have seen people politicise his death. In Ijaw land, there is no enmity in death. Let nobody politicise the passing of our dearly beloved deputy governor,” Diri said.
“If anyone truly loves him, this is the time to show it. I have directed that an autopsy be carried out to reveal the cause of his death. There is a lot of nonsense going on on social media.”
The governor further urged the public to focus on mourning and honouring the late deputy governor, noting that the state government had declared three working days of mourning in his honour.
“If anyone is issuing statements to eulogise him, let it end there. Let us mourn him because Bayelsa State is in a mourning mood,” he added.
Governor Diri also called for unity and love among the people, reminding them of the inevitability of death.
Speaking during the condolence visit, former President Goodluck Jonathan described the late Ewhrudjakpo as a committed and dedicated individual who played a key role in the activities of his foundation.
“For me, he was someone my foundation and I will never forget. He represented the governor in all our programs,” Jonathan said, adding that Ewhrudjakpo worked tirelessly in that role, even more than when he served as deputy governor.
The founder of Living Faith Church, Bishop David Oyedepo, has said he will never take part in partisan politics, not for even billions of naira.
He stated that no amount of money, including “$1 billion,” (1.4 Trillion naira) would make him join politics.
Oyedepo made this known during an impartation service at Shiloh 2025 held at the church’s headquarters in Canaanland, Ota, Ogun State.
He explained that partisan politics is not part of his life’s calling and that is why he has chosen to stay away from it.
In his words: “In 2015, I warned the church that trouble was coming. Didn’t trouble come?
“Partisan politics is off my calling. If you give me $1 billion to join politics, I won’t, because it is off my course.”
The bishop also said the world is in urgent need of God’s intervention because of the times we are living in.
According to him, believers are being trained as an end-time army to bring solutions to national and global problems, similar to what biblical figures like Joseph and Daniel did.
President Bola Tinubu congratulates Chief Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on his birthday, December 13.
President Tinubu celebrates with the Minister and former governor of Rivers State, giving thanks to God Almighty for enriching him with a life defined by purpose, service, and courage.
The President describes Chief Wike as an audacious top performer who defies obstacles and delivers results.
President Tinubu acknowledges the ongoing transformation of the Federal Capital Territory through infrastructure expansion, highlighting the Minister’s recent intervention that broke the 14-year logjam in the construction of the Apo-Karshi road.
The President commends Chief Wike for his resilience, can-do attitude, and commitment to excellence in all assignments.
President Tinubu thanks the Minister for his consistent efforts in delivering results and wishes him a happy birthday and strength to further his good work in the FCT.
“Nyesom Wike has been one of the shining stars in the cabinet, an exceptional performer, developing infrastructure in the Federal capital as never seen before and proving that his moniker as ‘Mr Project’ is not limited to his home state of Rivers.
“I commend him for being one of the champions of our Renewed Hope Agenda, even though he belongs to another party and wish him well as he marks another year in his life journey”.
Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President
(Information and Strategy)
December 13, 2025
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