The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, on Friday, said his government has over the last eight years prioritized security and invested hugely in the State’s security architecture, transforming the State into one of Nigeria’s safest States to live in and do business.
Obaseki, who spoke at the last State Security Council Meeting by his administration, commended the people and the various security agencies in the State for supporting and collaborating with his government in tackling insecurity and ensuring the safety and security of people and properties in the State.
The governor, who charged the incoming government to prioritize the security of residents of the State over politics, linked the improved security in the State in the last few years to the massive investment flow, growth in economy and the State’s Internally Generated Revenue, among others.
Addressing the security chiefs at the EXCO Chambers in Government House, the governor called for the participation of all stakeholders in fixing the nation, noting that “No one can fix Nigeria but us.”
According to him, “I thank all security agencies in the State for the collaboration as their efforts have made the state secure and safe for all.
“The spirit of collaboration has helped us solve many problems in the area of security. I commend the Department of State Security (DSS) as they were open and ready to give us information always. By adopting technology, we were able to cover the State and make it safe for our people.
“Using technology, we have been able to document every incident in the State and review the same, and work together to provide responses to the security situation in the State.
“The civil defense corps has been a great collaborator in terms of improving security in the State and by extension the protection of federal assets in Edo State. As a State, we have the capacity to tackle security challenges head-on as our collaboration has yielded positive results.”
He added, “The traffic agencies have done an amazing job in the last eight years as there have been improvements in the flow of traffic across the State.”
Obaseki continued: “I am leaving Edo much better, security-wise, than when I met it. My advice to the incoming administration is to take security seriously and never prioritize politics over security because there will be problems as citizens need to demand for a secure environment.
“We have shown that it’s possible because we have men and women who have the capacity and training to offer security services to the State and the people of the State.
“We will continue to ensure you protect our country as nobody will fix Nigeria for us; we have to fix it ourselves. We should realize that we have no other country to call our own and no matter the frustration, we should ensure we fix the country.”
The governor added, “My success is due to the collaboration and support I received from you. The development and growth in the domestic environment, as well as the interest of investors into the State is because of the secured environment we have in the State. Together, we have changed the narrative and the perception about security in the State.”
