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By Akanji Alowolodu, Bauchi
Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed while speaking during the launching of his empowerment programme at Toro local government area on Saturday, expressed concern over the spate of insecurity in the area.
The Governor therefore called on the local council and traditional leaders in the area to shine their eyes against strangers who are coming into the local government from other neighbouring states.
Bala Mohammed also stated that his administration has done a lot in the area of ensuring security of lives and properties in the state but lamented that the situation in Toro LGA seems to defied solutions.
He however assured that his administration will not relent until every corner of the state was secured stressing that security is a communal project which must be emphasize by all.
He said that the local government “is bedevilled by insecurity not because the residents are criminals or are harbouring criminals, but because of its geographical location, adding the movement of criminals from the North-West, North-Central and Northeast is responsible for the worsening security situation in the local government”.
Bala Mohammed added that, “I am calling on the people of Toro local government to know that security is a communal issue. We have the joint task force that is always drawing attention in Toro, but I am disturbed over the spate of abductions and insecurity, it is the only local government that is almost defying solution, but we are going to do more and we are doing more”
According to him, “Of course, we have people coming to settle in the Lame forest, so I am calling on the local council and the traditional leaders to open their eyes, to shine their eyes. We are not unwelcoming to strangers coming into the state, but we don’t welcome criminals into our state. We don’t have to be selling the forest. The Lame Bura forest is one of the largest in Nigeria, it is almost destroyed, but certainly, as a government, we are taking very strong measures to ensure that this thing does not continue,”.
Bala Mohammed further said that the people of the local government have a special place in his heart because its population, adding that the local government was excluded from most government projects because of the scarcity of resources and not because they did not vote for him during the previous election.
He said that his government will embark on more road projects that will open up the LGA as well as carry out another additional empowerment programme in the local government for women and youths.
The beneficiaries were empowered with Motorcycles, Grinding Machines, sewing machines, makeup kits, shoe making machines, buses and cash among others.
Some of the beneficiaries who spoke to Journalists thanked the government for the kind gesture, assuring to make judicious use of the items given to them by the government.
The State First Lady added that her project, Almuhibba Foundation will continue to collaborate with the state government in the area of poverty eradication calling on the beneficiaries to use the items judiciously so that it will yield more profit for others to gain from.
The State Commissioner of Education, Dr Aliyu Usman Tilde who is from the area, had commemded the Governor for appointing many people from the area into his cabinet saying that it is a demonstration of an inclusive government.
The Commissioner then assured the Governor that when next he contest for any election in the area, he will surely win with a wide margin because according to him, “the people have now seen the difference between now and then. Toro is now a complete PDP LGA in Bauchi state”.
his welcome address, Executive Chairman of Toro LGC, Adamu Danyaro Geji said that the ceremony marked an important milestone in the history of the local Government saying, “We are therefore proud to state that today’s occasion is a confirmation that our people will receive a dividend of democracy, particularly in the area of Economic empowerment” .
He also said that the positive impact of the administration has touched the lives of all and sundry in the state through various means stressing that, “Life has changed for the better and it is our esteem regard and aspiration that many good things came and more are about coming”.
According to him, “We are also aware of all the developmental projects this administration has carried out in various towns and villages within the sale in general and Toro Local Government in particular. Those projects include road construction and rehabilitation, provision of portable drinking water, construction and renovation of classroom blocks, installation of transformers.
