President Bola Tinubu has said that adding four more divisions to the Nigerian Army, making a total of twelve, will help the military respond quickly to insecurity. He believes this will motivate the army better to handle the ongoing security problems in the country.
The president shared this during a meeting with traditional rulers from Oyo State, led by the Olubadan of Ibadan, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, Arusa 1, at the State House on Thursday.
Tinubu noted that the bravery of security personnel, along with the support and prayers of traditional rulers in Oyo State and all Nigerians, helped in resolving the recent abduction issue.
"Congratulations on the Oriire rescue that succeeded. I think we succeeded with your support, prayers, and I agree with you that we should commend the men and women of the armed forces for their excellent performance. On behalf of them, I accept your message, and I will forward the same message on.
"We refused to negotiate. These criminals wanted us to review the release from detention, members of their criminal gangs that were already arrested. That was one of their conditions, aside from the money they’re looking for. And I said, ‘no deal,’ we are not going to negotiate with criminals. They committed murder.
"Some of them are non-Nigerians, you know, you see the problem of insecurity in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger Republic is adding more fuel to our challenges,” President Tinubu said.
State Police and Security Measures
The president also took the chance to ease worries about state police. He promised that there would be checks and balances to prevent misuse of power.
"There will be state police. That state police will have guardrails from abuses. We’ll protect it from abuses, and you traditional rulers too will have roles to play.
"We are equally enhancing the capacity and capability of the forest guards; they are not just to chase antelopes and animals. We are going to have them chase the criminals and deal with them in various forests,” President Tinubu assured.
Emphasizing the need for intelligence and vigilance, Tinubu urged Nigerians to be alert and aware of their neighbors and communities. He asked them to report any strange people or activities.
Economic Updates
On the economy, President Tinubu said things have improved. He noted that governors are now collecting more revenue compared to when he was a governor. He added that no governor needs to borrow money to pay salaries anymore.
He urged traditional rulers to encourage their governors to focus on building quality infrastructure. He said, "building roads and arteries network to really enhance the quality of life and accessibility of the security agencies to penetrate those areas as opposed to building flyovers where there is no numeric traffic."
In his response, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, thanked the president for the successful Oriire rescue and other achievements of his administration.
Mr Ladoja also stressed that true federalism is essential for faster development in each region. He suggested that creating regional commissions would speed up progress in different areas.
He expressed support for the Renewed Hope Agenda, saying, "We believe in your Renewed Hope Agenda. It is clear you are Renewing our Hope in infrastructure and fixing our abandoned roads. We traditional rulers must ensure this administration completes its tenure. We know it’s a difficult job, and we are ready at any point in time to give you our own opinion, our own advice, and also our own prayers.
"We continue to pray for you, Mr President, so that by the time you do your bit, and I look at it that you are, now, and that has been shown in the Oriire issue,” Mr Ladoja said.
The Olubadan also took the opportunity to ask for more recognition for traditional rulers by giving them roles in the constitution.
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