A recent trip by Northern governors to the United States to discuss regional insecurity has sparked criticism from former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido.
Lamido lambasted the governors, stating that their decision to engage in discussions on security matters, which fall under the Exclusive Legislative List, showcased their ignorance of Nigeria’s constitution.
In a statement posted on his official Facebook page, Lamido remarked, “But to engage on issues which are on the Exclusive Legislative List such as security says a lot about the substance they are made of.”
The United States Institute of Peace organized the two-day symposium on Peace and Security in Northern Nigeria, inviting ten governors from the Northwest and Northcentral regions. The event, held from April 23 to April 25, aimed to explore collaborative solutions to Nigeria’s security challenges.
Defending the trip, Katsina State Governor, Mallam Dikko Umaru Radda, highlighted the importance of international collaboration in addressing security issues.
He stated, “The meeting was part of efforts to find a lasting solution to Nigeria’s security challenges through international collaborations.”
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However, Lamido criticized the governors’ decision, labeling it as wasteful. He argued that instead of traveling abroad, the governors could have sought expertise from local institutions such as the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in Kuru or the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON) in Badagry.
“Our children attend primary schools under the trees and where there are classes, they take their lessons sitting on the floor, yet the security implications of this cannot be discerned by their Excellencies,” Lamido lamented.
Expressing disappointment in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Lamido blamed them for failing to guide the governors properly.
He remarked, “I blame the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the NIA for failing to properly guide the governors for this folly.”
Lamido’s criticism extended to the image projected by Nigeria internationally, stating, “Nigeria and Nigerians now carry the image of ‘advancing our shame and embarrassment beyond our frontiers’ caused by their Excellencies.”
Despite the backlash, the Northern governors have yet to respond to Lamido’s remarks, leaving questions lingering about the effectiveness of their approach to addressing insecurity amidst pressing domestic issues.