Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom, on Wednesday, challenged the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government to account for the $1billion security funds contributed by the 36 states of the Federation to fight insurgency in the country.
Governor Ortom in a statement by his spokesman, Nathaniel Ikyur, wondered what the Buhari-led administration had done with the money such that insecurity has continued to worsen across the country.
The statement added that Governor Ortom had mandated his deputy, Benson Abounu, who represented him at a virtual meeting of the Nigerian Governors Forum to seek clarifications on the $1billion security funds.
Ortom’s statement read, “What have they done with the one billion dollars the Governors Forum gave on behalf of the local governments for security? That money is huge. What have they done with the money that terrorists will kidnap citizens without any rescue mission?
“It is even more worrisome and unthinkable that terrorists will threaten to kidnap our President. If that happens, that means we have no country again.
“The primary responsibility of any responsive government is to ensure the safety of lives and property but the situation whereby innocent Nigerians are left at the mercy of vicious terrorists is unacceptable. We must not allow this to continue.”
The Benue governor decried the situation where Nigeria, acclaimed as the giant of Africa, had become helpless in combating the security challenges confronting its citizens.
He noted that it’s very painful Nigeria had come to the sorry situation it is today.
The governor, however, stressed that security should be of concern to all citizens, irrespective of their political affiliations because the protection of lives and property of citizens should be of utmost priority.
He commended the security operatives in his state for their efforts and sacrifices to keep all citizens and their properties safe.