By Shuaib Habeebullahi
Dare Babatunde, a supporter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Kwara, has claimed that Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has not constituted the State Security Council in Kwara state in the last three years.
Babatunde made this claim in an article titled ‘Mallam Ajakaye, the Storytelling Animal,’ a riposte to the one earlier authored by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Rafiu Ajakaye, ‘An imitation that just doesn’t fly,’ over the weekend.
In the article, Babatunde said the governor has not constituted the security council to coordinate strategies for the protection of lives and properties in the state.
“May I remind Ajakaye that his master, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq has not even constituted the security council for the state talk less of attempting to think about expansion or strengthening of existing measure for protection of lives and property? Has the administration worked to make abduction costlier for perpetrators? Can Ajakaye point to one single measure designed to contain this trend beyond his empty words?”
VERIFICATION
The State Security Council is a replication of the National Security Council at the state level. The latter was established by Section 153, subsection 25 of the 1999 Constitution, including the members.
However, there is no provision for State Security Council in the Constitution, but the NSC is being replicated at the state level due to political expediency to enable each state monitor the security issues.
The Council is tasked with the responsibility of advising the governor on matters relating to public security to ensure the protection of lives and properties.
In Kwara, membership of the Security Council comprises heads of security agencies, the Governor, Deputy Governor, the Emir, and other relevant officials as may be deemed necessary by the Government.
The Body does not require swearing-in.
Kwara Governor has been holding Security Council meetings, as can be verified in media reporting.
Premium Times reported on May 30, 2019 that Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq held the maiden security council meeting.
On different occasions in 2020 and 2021, the Council also met.
On October 31, 2022, TheSun newspaper reported Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq approved the immediate reconstruction of perimeter fencing around the orientation camp of the National Youth Service Corps in Yikpata, Edu LGA.
As part of the deliberations at the meeting, the Council advised the state to carefully profile and register all Okada riders in state to curb the influx of criminals from other part of the country.
The security council meeting was attended by Deputy Governor Kayode Alabi; Secretary to the State Government Prof. Mamman Sabah Jubril; Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters Brig-Gen. Saliu Tunde Bello (rtd); Emir of Ilorin Dr. Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari; and all the security chiefs in the state, including the Police, Army, Navy, Air Force, and state security service.
VERDICT:
Babatunde’s claim that the State Security Council is not constituted is FALSE. The Council has been meeting since 2019 and even met in October 31, 2022, in Ilorin.
Is Ilorin/Kwara now one of the dirtiest cities/states in Nigeria?
In another paragraph of the article, Babatunde also claimed that Kwara is now one of the dirties states in Nigeria.
“What of colleges of education staff salaries? Closure of the state asphalt plant, increased insecurity, collapse of Soludero buses and *the degeneration of the state capital to a level where it is categorised as one of the dirtiest cities in Nigeria?* IGR hasn’t increased beyond what previous government projected before exiting the scene, more troubling is that KWIRS staff were protesting to get the attention of government.”
We made an inquiry into this claim.
In early December, a report presented by Clean Up Nigeria (CUN), in partnership with the Institute De France and the Foundation (SUES), Munich Germany (DSZ) Beautiful Stamford CT (USA) International Council for Environment Initiative (ICLE) in Abuja, the six dirtiest states in Nigeria are Abia, Borno, Kebbi, Kogi, Edo, and Ondo.
The similar list released in 2021 by the same organisation did not also rank Ilorin in the top 10 dirtiest cities in Nigeria.
No credible report between 2019 and now ever ranked Kwara/Ilorin as one of the dirtiest states in the country.
Therefore, Babatunde’s claim is FALSE.
