Seeing poverty among citizens often frustrates me – Bauchi Governor

By Samuel Luka, Bauchi

Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state has lamented the level of poverty among the citizens of Nigeria despite the huge economic viability of the country.

The Governor stated this while receiving a heroic award from the Bauchi state Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) at the government house on Friday.

“There are so many fields that I have modestly contributed my quota to. Sometimes I feel fulfilled, often I feel frustrated that I have not achieve what I want to achieve in live, and that is to see that there is no poverty among the citizens”, he added.

According to the governor, “there is enough, especially in Nigeria. Nigeria is a beautiful country, it has given all of us the opportunity, especially some of us that are federalists that started work in Lagos before coming back to Abuja”.

Bala who described Nigeria’s complexity as a source of solace and comfort said, in the past, the interaction in the administrative cadre of the civil service was very patriotic, such that the permanent secretary sees them as sons to mentor, irrespective of where they come from.

“At the time I started work, there was no Northerner at my department, all those who mentored me were southerners and they did not discriminate against me and I still relate with them they are still my parents, and this is how Nigeria should be”, the Governor opined.

Bala while regretting the present situation of the nation where the citizens have defaulted, insisted that the fault lines must be regained to foster growth and development.

He commended the NSCDC for their role in providing security to lives and properties of Nigerians, adding that their ability to relate with the communities is giving them the opportunity to know the happenings around them.

The Governor who applauded the synergy and collaboration between the police, Civil Defense, Army and other sister security agencies, prayed that the good gesture be sustained for the overall benefit of the country.

Bala who acknowledged that the primary responsibility of the government is provision of safety and security to the citizens, stressed the need for employment of more civil defense officers to be able to cover all the unmanned areas.

The governor who thanked the NSCDC for the recognition, expressed surprise that the contributions he made when he served as desk officer in charge of Civil Defense is been remembered.

Bala Mohammed while recalling that there was a lot of acrimony, suspicion and mistrust against the civil defense in the 1980s, expressed delight that they have now grown and are doing well in the security architecture of the country.

“I am very proud of the civil defense corps. I am also proud of the way and manner the police accepted them, at a point, most of the responsibilities rest on the police and there was this suspicion that they were taking the role of the police”, he said.

The Governor further said that the officers of the NSCDC have now become veritable partners of the police and the military, dedicated the honor to his family, Bauchi state and all politicians across the country.