By Ali Abare

If Ayuba Umar is comparing the security situation of today in Nasarawa State to what obtains in the United States, then he has missed the point. There is no basis for any comparison between these two entities.

The United States has its own unique security architecture, history, and challenges, just as Nasarawa State operates within the complex and specific context of Nigeria’s federal system. To suggest a direct replication is not only impractical but demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of governance.

Ayuba Umar’s article, which attempts to find fault with Governor Abdullahi Sule’s handling of security, is of course, fundamental in a democracy, but he conveniently chose to ignore the visible progress and strategic investments made by the present administration.

While it is a welcome development for citizens of the state to seek to draw the attention of the state government, especially on issues that hinges on the security and welfare of the people of the state, Umar’s focus on a flawed comparison distracts from the real, on-the-ground efforts to protect the lives and property of the people of Nasarawa State.

A core thrust of Ayuba Umar’s criticism is the alleged mismanagement of security funds. This is a serious accusation that requires an equally serious look at the facts, which when viewed objectively, tell a different story. Rather than being unaccountable as alleged, security funds are being visibly and directly deployed to strengthen the state’s security infrastructure.

For instance, during the distribution of over 40 operational vehicles to security agencies operating in the state, at a ceremony in the Government House, Governor Sule said that it is the policy thrust of his administration to provide operational vehicles, including an unprecedented three numbers of Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) to security agencies towards enhancing their functions aimed at realising government’s objectives in protecting lives and property.

Furthermore, the administration of Governor Sule has demonstrated an uncommon commitment to enhancing security through decisive collaboration with the federal government. A key example is the establishment of Military Super-Camps in Katakpa, Kenyehu all in Toto Local Government Area, as well Panda, in Karu Local Government Area.

It would interest Ayuba Umar to note that aside providing critical logistics while establishing these military super camps, the Nasarawa State Government is committed to providing monthly stipends of N10m towards sustaining operational activities of the camps.

This initiative was a specific and approved action by the state government to create a strategic stronghold for security operations, enabling faster response to threats in a region that has known its share of violence.

This resourcefulness goes beyond mere rhetoric; it represents a concrete step taken to fortify the presence of the military in vulnerable areas. The military super camp is part of ongoing efforts to maintain peace and order, reflecting the Governor’s unwavering commitment to the safety and well-being of residents across the state.

It is generally agreed that security challenges are a global and national phenomenon, with Nasarawa State also not shielded from its own share of security breaches as seen in clashes over land ownership, kidnapping and armed robbery. It is wrong therefore to condemn the efforts of the Governor Sule administration in the area of its determined action to curtail these infractions in the security architecture of the state.

Governor Sule has always been proactive when it comes to issues of security. His administration has always involved the expanded state security council in addressing emerging security threats in the state, where prompt and practical solutions are deployed in order to tackle such security lapses.

It is also a known fact that the government also recognizes that lasting security requires addressing the root causes of conflict. For example, recent crises witnessed in locations such as Sarkin Noma, Kadarko, Kwara, and Giza in Keana Local Government; Doka and Agbashi in Doma Local Government; Dudugulu in Obi Local Government, as well as Nindama community of the Kokona Local Government, have all been linked to controversies surrounding ownership of land.

In this respect, the Governor Sule administration is effectively looking beyond just military solutions and is adopting mechanisms that resolve conflicts at their source, with successes recorded in mitigating lingering crisis involving mining communities in the Udege area.

This explains the rationale behind the administration’s efforts to adopt and improve community-based conflict resolution mechanisms which aligns with the core recommendation from security experts, by mainstreaming traditional institutions and local arbitrators into the dispute resolution process for land-related cases, which is crucial for building sustainable peace from the ground up.

Obviously criticisms leveled by Ayuba Umar, which may be better described as abject cynicism, are not grounded in a full appreciation of the work being done. Governor Sule’s administration is pursuing a multi-faceted security strategy that includes practical support for security agencies, establishment of new military infrastructure, and an understanding of the underlying causes of conflict that necessitate community-based resolution.

It is easy to make sweeping allegations from the sidelines, but the reality of governance involves making difficult, strategic decisions with available resources. The people of Nasarawa State are witnesses to these efforts. They see a government that is actively building partnerships, empowering security personnel, and working to create an environment where peace can thrive and development can follow.

Security remains one of the cardinal objective of the Governor Sule administration, especially when viewed against the concerted efforts of the state government to diversify the economy of the state through agriculture, mining and industrialization. Ayuba Umar may chose to play around security to score cheap popularity but for Governor Sule, security forms the bedrock upon which the success of his administration rest upon.

As the Governor Sule confronts emerging security threats, particularly kidnapping and farmer-herder crises, it is this focused work, not misguided international comparisons, that will ultimately secure a safer future for the state.