Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, says security will top his
administration’s priority list in 2019 to ensure the state is stabilised
before, during and after the general elections scheduled to hold this
year.
The governor made this known when he received the outgoing 4 Brigade
Commander, Brig.-Gen Ibrahim Garuba and his successor, Brig.-Gen Greg
Omoregbe on a courtesy visit to Government House, Benin on Saturday.
Obaseki said due to the strategic location of the state, it was
important to beef up security before, during and after the general
elections.
“This year we will focus extensively on security as it is an election
year and given the position of the state; it is important that the
state is stabilised.
“We are doing everything possible to ensure that we have a security
arrangement, which recognises the citizens of the state and integrates
them to our security frame work,’’ the governor said.
He commended the outgoing Commander for his roles in the birthing of
the state new security Architecture and trust funds as well as his level
of commitment and dedication to his duties.
“At every time, he was always there in planning our response to security challenges and as a state we can’t thank him enough.
“I recall the support he gave to us when we were trying to ensure law and order in major streets in Benin metropolis.
“He assisted the state in collaboration with other security outfits
to curtail farmers-herdsmen crises and militancy in the state during our
early days in office, ‘’ Obaseki said.
The governor urged the new Brigade Commander to deploy his
operational skills toward sustaining the achievements of his predecessor
and assured of his administration’s support.
Earlier, Garuba had thanked the governor for his supportive role to the Brigade under his tenure as Commander.
He said the synergy between the state government and the Brigade
Command made him contributed his quota to the security of the state and
inauguration of the new security architecture in the state.
Similarly, the new Commander said he would continue from where his
predecessor stopped to sustain the cordial relationship between the
state government and people of the state.
Omoregbe pledged to work in harmony with the state government and
other security outfits to ensure peace and security in the state.