Edo Governor says sub-national governments have constitutional responsibility to protect lives and property
Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has called on Nigeria’s 36 state governors to take primary responsibility for tackling insecurity in their domains, insisting that President Bola Tinubu cannot be held solely accountable for the nation’s security challenges.
Speaking during an All Progressives Congress stakeholders’ meeting at Okaijesan Town Hall in Irrua, Esan Central Local Government Area, the governor emphasized that effective security requires a collective approach across all levels of government.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu cannot come to Edo or visit all the states at the same time because he is just one person. If I protect Edo State and every other governor protects their states, insecurity will become a thing of the past,” Okpebholo stated.
The governor, whose remarks were contained in a statement issued Tuesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Patrick Ebojele, described critics who blame the President alone for insecurity as “unfair,” arguing they ignore the constitutional responsibilities vested in state governments.
He also took aim at opposition politicians who previously served as governors or vice president, questioning what concrete steps they took to address similar security challenges during their own tenures.
“Many governors are working hard to solve security challenges across the nation. Governors should take charge of their various states and address the security situation. This is what is called sub-national responsibility, and it will help solve the problem,” he added.
Okpebholo maintained that greater commitment from state governments to protecting lives and property would significantly reduce insecurity nationwide.
