Gov Okpebholo Urges Governors to Take Ownership of State Security, Defends Tinubu’s Fight Against Insecurity
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has called on governors across the 36 states of the federation to assume greater responsibility for addressing security challenges within their respective jurisdictions, insisting that sustainable peace can only be achieved through effective sub-national leadership and collective action.
Governor Okpebholo made the call during the All Progressives Congress (APC) Stakeholders’ Interactive Session held at the Okaijesan Town Hall in Irrua, Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo State, where he emphasized the need for state governments to complement the Federal Government’s efforts in tackling insecurity across the country.
The governor maintained that while President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains committed to restoring peace and stability nationwide, the enormity of Nigeria’s security challenges requires the active participation of governors, who, according to him, are constitutionally closer to the people and better positioned to coordinate security responses within their states.
He argued that holding the President solely responsible for insecurity in every part of the country ignores the critical role expected of state governments, stressing that effective collaboration between the Federal Government and sub-national administrations remains indispensable to overcoming the nation’s security concerns.
Governor Okpebholo also faulted opposition figures seeking elective offices for what he described as persistent criticism of the President over insecurity, despite having previously occupied strategic leadership positions without delivering lasting solutions to similar challenges.
According to him, some of those now seeking to lead the country had served as Vice President and governors, yet failed to effectively address the security problems confronting their respective states and the nation during their tenure in office.
“The people who want to contest the presidential election under other opposition political parties are criticizing the President over security challenges. But many of them have served as Vice President and governors before. What did they do for their states and the nation while they were in office?” he queried.
The governor further stressed that it was unrealistic to expect the President to personally intervene in security operations across every state of the federation, noting that security management requires coordinated efforts at all levels of government.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu cannot be in Edo State or every other state at the same time because he is just one man. If I protect Edo State and every other governor takes responsibility for securing their own state, insecurity will significantly reduce. Those who continue to blame only the President for every security challenge are not being fair to him. They are enemies of this country,” he said.
Governor Okpebholo, however, acknowledged the efforts being made by several governors to strengthen security within their domains and urged all state chief executives to intensify collaboration with security agencies, community leaders and relevant stakeholders to safeguard lives and property.
He reiterated that effective sub-national governance remains central to addressing Nigeria’s security challenges, expressing confidence that greater commitment by state governments would substantially improve the nation’s security architecture and accelerate the restoration of lasting peace across the federation.
