By Bala Yahaya, Minna
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Niger State, Liman Kantigi, has promised to involve traditional rulers to tackle banditry and other criminal activities in the state, if given the mandate on March 11, 2023 election.
Making the promise at a media engagement over the weekend in Minna, Kantigi noted that banditry caused serious setback to many citizens of the state, particularly farmers. He added that many innocent citizens were killed and unspecified number of rural people forced into Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps as a result of attacks by the bandits.
His words: “Many communities in Niger East and Niger North were ransacked by bandits.”
The PDP candidate stressed the need for new strategies by stakeholders to find permanent solution to the security challenges.
He said: “The only way we can address the security challenges is to involve traditional and community leaders, because they are close to the people. They also have wisdom to know each and every member of a community. Therefore, government at all levels must carry them along to be able to eliminate banditry in our society.”
“The security agents must be taken care of adequately in terms of welfare package as well as decent accommodation to boost their morale.”
He disclosed that Governor Abubakar Sani Bello made significant efforts in the fight against banditry and other criminalities in the state, saying the Federal Government had not been supportive to the governor.
On the January 25, 2023 presidential and National Assembly elections, Kantigi said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) performed below Nigerians’ expectation.
His words: “INEC failed to transmit election results electronically, as contained in the Electoral Act. But we will not take it lightly in the next election. PDP is fully prepared for the March 11 governorship and House of Assembly elections.”
Kantigi had earlier called on Niger people, especially, PDP supporters, to come out en masse to vote for the party on March 11.
Source: The Guardian
