Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and Gombe State Governor, Hassan Dankwambo yesterday engaged each other in verbal fireworks over which political party should be voted for in 2019 election.
Both who were awardees spoke during the Blueprint Newspapers Impact/Series/Awards which held in Abuja yesterday.
Rotimi Amaechi who spoke first after receiving his ward for his reforms in the transportation sector called on the electorate to vote All Progressives Party, APC, in the 2019 general election.
Disagreeing with Amaechi, Governor Hassan Dankwambo said after receiving his award that the electorate should rather vote for the party that will secure their lives, suggesting that his party the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, should rather be voted for in 2019 instead of the APC.
Similarly, Senator representing Kaduna Central Constituency in the 8th National Assembly, Shehu Sani who was also an awardee disagreed with Amaechi, saying that Nigerians should be allowed to vote whoever they desire.
He said, “ I want to support President Muhammadu Buhari that Nigerians should vote for who they desire in the 2019 general election.”
Other distinguished Nigerians honoured by the Blueprint Newspapers yesterday were; Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari,Simon Bako Lalong,Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam.
Also honoured are; Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emiefiele, Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, Commandant General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, Abdullahi Gana Muhammadu, former governor of Kogi state, Idris Wada, Chairman/CEO National Hajj Commission, Abdullahi Muktar Muhammad, President National Union of Road Transport Workers, Alhaji Najeem Usman Yasin, Vice Chancellor Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Professor Francis Ogbonnaya Otunta and Director-General Industrial Training Fund, Sir Joseph Ntung Speaking during the awards ceremony, Emir of Birnin Gwari, Malam Zubair Jibril Mai Gwari II, described formulation of state police, as a formidable step towards fighting crimes in Nigeria.
The traditional ruler, in his Keynote Address on the theme of the award: Tolerance, Unity and Security: Building a Legacy for National Development, insisted that the nation must rise to this contemporary necessity.
According to him, the concept of state police has well and fully been integrated in the law enforcement agencies of various countries and the phenomenon has succeeded in ensuring security of the valued citizenry.
He said: “Much discourse has been propounded in recent times about the establishment or otherwise of the State Police, as the practice is found in other nations; I therefore see this as a timely necessity. It is the only hope left for us to curb rising cases of insecurity in our localities.
“State police when established can work routinely in towns and villages as opposed to strictly patrolling the politically oriented programmes of their respective state governors and federal highways.”
He therefore urged the Federal Government to expedite action towards completing the legal processes toward establishing state police in Nigeria and strengthening community policing.
Also, lending his voice in support of state police, Reverend Joseph Hayab, of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), said insecurity will continue to be a serious problem and hindrance to national unity and development until it’s holistically addressed, to conform with current trends.
The cleric decried that politicians have become champions of hate speeches, but yet preach peace, unity and tolerance for national development.
He added that for there to be peace and tolerance for national security and development, politicians must demonstrate what they preach to the citizens.
Earlier, Chairman, Blueprint Newspapers limited, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, explained that the theme of the event was aimed at addressing the lingering security and sundry issues affecting Nigeria’s development.
Idris stressed the need for government to ensure inclusiveness in terms of policies formulation and implementation in the country.
On the various categories of awards given the awardees, ranging from top public officers to serving and past politicians, Idris noted it was in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the development of the country.
