Bago Advocates Single Term For Governors, Backs State Police

Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago has advanced reasons for single term for state governors in the country and the establishment of state police.

He said yesterday at the swearing in of new local government chairmen, their deputies and commissioners at Government House, Minna that such would curb the desperation for second term that often affects decisions of governors for fear of losing second term.

The governor said, “I am an advocate of single tenure for governors for us to achieve effective governance and development. The crave for second term often makes political office holders to turn everything into politics.”

According to him, the rush for second term in office makes most elected officials to abandon governance for partisan politics when much ground is yet uncovered.

“When people fail examinations over and over again, you can’t sack them because you are afraid it may affect your second term chances” he added.

Bago said the hands of most governors were tied due to political considerations and they are often unable to take decisive actions on development.

He added, “Everybody is procrastinating due to political considerations, we need governors to have single tenure for them to be more pragmatic in the concept of development.”

The governor also noted that the time for the establishment of state police was ripe if urgent steps must be taken to mitigate the effects of the current security challenges bedeviling the country.

“State police is now a reality, we need to have community policing by abandoning self aggrandisement for reality,” he said.

The governor who did not allocate portfolios to the new commissioners, urged them and the local government chairmen to key into the new Niger agenda; a policy he maintained was well thought out for the rebirth of the state on security, agricultural revolution, health care expansion and infrastructure development.