Morolake Oluwatosin
Niger State Governor and Chairman North Central States Governors’ Forum Abubakar Sani Bello has charged Strategic Leaders and Members of Course 30 of the Nigerian Defense College, to reflect on why the fight against insurgency has not yielded the desired result and come up with strategic roadmap to end the menace soon.
Governor Sani Bello gave the charge while presenting a paper on “Strategic Leadership: My Experience as the Governor of Niger State” at the National Defence College, Abuja, an event organized for the Higher Defense Management Course 30 of the College.
The Governor wondered why the Nigerian Military, known for its gallantry worldwide, is having difficulties curbing the security challenges bedeviling the nation.
“We need to do further retrospection as to why the Nigerian Military that is praised all over the world for its gallantry seem to be fighting insurgency and banditry without an end. As strategic leaders and Members of Course 30 of the Nigerian Defense College, I challenge you to come up with strategic roadmap to end these menace soon”, he said.
Governor Sani Bello, who recalled how Niger state used to be one of the most peaceful states before the setting in of terrorism, kidnappings and cattle rustling in some parts of the state, pointed out that his administration has been battling the security challenges with every sense of responsibility and determination.
“As the Chief Security Officer of the State, we took our responsibility of providing quality information to the security agencies, effectively supporting them with logistics and morale boosting gestures.
“We have also brought in non-state actors like the vigilantes and the hunters to support the conventional security apparatus considering their knowledge of the terrain. On many occasions, I have had to visit the affected communities and had one-on-one dialogue with the victims as well as interact with the members of the troops on ground”, he said.
The Governor urged the security agencies to respond promptly to the intel of the information provided by the state government, use technology to fight terrorism rather than conventional way.
He also called for the return of traditional border patrol while insisting that aircraft patrol at the border is imperative in other to stop the movement of weapons into the country.
The Governor also noted that the enthronement of credible democratic process through accountability and transparency, which are some of the hallmarks of Strategic Political Leadership, is said to be capable of restoring sanity and diligence in government enterprise.
He outlined some attributes of a Strategic Political Leader as a good listener, servant-leader, innovative, passionate, diplomatic and a steward who forgets his personal interest and is genuinely concerned with the welfare and development of the people.
The Governor took time to explain the
underlying Principles of Strategic Political Leadership, its significance to democratic governance and how he has put into practice, such principles in his administration in Niger State.
He maintained that, despite the effect of COVID-19 pandemic and the heightened insecurity in the state, his leadership style guided by the Principles of Strategic Leadership has brought in positive changes to governance in the state.
The Governor urge all leaders in every capacity to demonstrate tolerance for members of their team, avoid all acts of corruption and its tendencies, exhibit high sense of responsibility and decorum at all times and must see themselves as agents of positive change in the society.
The Commandant of the National Defense College, Rear Admiral Murtala Mormoni Bashir assured the Governor that the participants will come up with a strategic plan that will assist in curbing the activities of terrorists in the country.
Rear Admiral Bashir sympathized with the Governor on the incessant attacks by the terrorists in some parts of Niger State and commended him for not dialoguing with the terrorists.