Call for Masari’s resignation absurd – Media aide

A governor is the chief security officer of his state only in name because the various security chiefs working in the state take orders not from him

The director of media to the Katsina State governor, Abdu Labaran Malumfashi, has described the call by the Katsina State chapter of the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) on Governor Aminu Bello Masari to resign as absurd.

Malumfashi, in a statement, said the call for the governor’s resignation because of his recent call on citizens to defend themselves against bandits was uncalled for.

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He said, “Security is on the exclusive list of the Nigerian constitution, which that means it is exclusively a federal government affair. In matters of security, a governor is the chief security officer of his state only in name because the various security chiefs working in the state take orders not from him, but from their superiors in Abuja.

“The only things they take from governors are financial and material assistance (both solicited and unsolicited), which they extend to the security institutions in the states. Governor Masari is second to none when it comes to proactive engagement with security agencies in the state.

“Therefore, to suggest that Governor Masari should resign for his patriotic candor and courage in admonishing his people to wake up and resist the bandits by acquiring arms for self defence betrays a sheer lack of the understanding of the letter and spirit, as well as the workings of the Nigerian constitution.”