Presidential aide Daniel Bwala has said state governors should be held accountable for the rising cases of kidnapping across Nigeria, arguing that insecurity at the grassroots reflects failures in governance. Speaking during an interview on the Morayo Show, Bwala maintained that governors must take responsibility for every kidnapping recorded within their states. The governors and kidnapping debate, he said, centres on how public funds are managed and how local security is supported. According to Bwala, addressing the governors and kidnapping issue requires greater accountability at the state level.
“Every k+dnapping and abd¥ction that takes place in any state of the Nigeria, hold that governor responsible. And I will say, and I want it to be the catching word. Every local government, all the k+dnappings have taken place in local government,” he said.
Bwala also questioned the use of funds released under the Safe School Initiative, claiming the programme was created to improve security in schools through perimeter fencing, early warning systems and other protective measures.
“There was this thing called Safe School Initiative that was started since in which moneys were given to states to create perimeter fencing, early science warning, and all of those checks to the schools. Ask your governor where that money went to,” he stated.
The presidential aide further argued that local governments would be in a stronger position to tackle insecurity if they received their statutory allocations directly. He said proper funding at the grassroots would improve community development and strengthen local security structures.
Using Oyo State as an example, Bwala claimed that some local government councils receive about ₦600 million every month.
“I was in Oyo and I engaged with the Oyo State government. In fact, in the local government in Oyo, three local government. I say this local government every month, 600 million is coming here. And that’s how it goes across Nigeria.
For God of heaven and earth, if these people had allowed the money to go to the chairman, and that money is used in that locality, women will not struggle to be dying while giving birth. The pupils at the primary school will have good education. Local vigilante will be equipped and empowered to resist. Local policing will be strong there, and the welfare of the old people in the local government would have been taken care of,” Bwala said.
He argued that giving local councils direct control over their funds would improve healthcare, education, community policing and social welfare while strengthening efforts to tackle insecurity. Bwala insisted that the governors and kidnapping challenge cannot be separated from how resources meant for grassroots development are managed.
Should state governors bear greater responsibility for tackling insecurity within their states?
