The Governor of Niger state, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, has urged the federal government to implement the report of the committee on the post election violence as a way of forestalling future use of thugs during election and blamed politics for the security challenges.
?
The Governor? stated this while playing host to members of the Presidential Committee on Security Challenges in the North-East in Minna yesterday.
He said that? those who posed security challenges to the nation were armed thugs used by politicians during electioneering period and later discarded.
?
?The governor? noted that after the elections, the thugs were used to settle? political scores in some instances and advised the federal government to implement the report of the presidential committee on post election violence led by Sheik Ahmed Lemu to check future occurrence.
Aliyu also said?? that those behind the ugly act should be made to face? the law through the appropriate processes that would serve as deterrent to others.
?
?“Whether we like it or not, what is happening in the country has changed our lives permanently. And those using thuggery as a way of life, I believe, should be brought to book, otherwise, we will just see them perpetrating it the more”, Gov Aliyu said
?According to him, because of what people stand to gain from political offices, elections in the nation were desperately contested for, instead of being seen as social contract with the people.
?
?The governor therefore challenged the committee to be bold and come submit its report with? the necessary recommendations and said, “most times, when the reports of that nature comes out, we find it difficult to implement them”.
?
?He said that contrary? to widely held view? alleging that the dreaded Boko Harem sect was a religious group,? it was, indeed, a product of the power struggle among the elite.
In his remark earlier, the committee? chairman, Ambassador Usman Gaji told the governor that the committee was in the state to interact? with the government for? on the spot assessment of?? some? security challenges in the country. ?
?