The governorship candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in Enugu State, Mr. Frank Nweke Jnr., has said that the failure of political and economic leadership is responsible for the complete breakdown in law and order in the state

Speaking in a television interview in Abuja Tuesday, Nweke, who was formerly Nigeria’s Minister of Information, however, highlighted key steps needed to address the security challenges facing Enugu State.

According to him, the level of economic deprivation of the people needed to be urgently addressed with the appropriate leadership adding that the failure of the leadership in the state to address poverty and hunger had created the foundations for the rise in the level of insecurity.

Nweke said that confronting issues of socio-economic development would be paramount to solving security challenges in the state.

“In order to tackle insecurity, we need to pay attention to issues around socio-economic development. Number one will be an investment in the right infrastructures – the education infrastructure and health infrastructure. But most importantly, you must make concerted efforts by putting in place the right policies and the right incentives to make your state the destination of choice for investors.

“It is the investors that you encourage to come in and invest that will create the jobs that will empower the teeming population of young people in the state. That is what you must do and that is at the root of the matter,” he said.

Nweke further said that mitigative measures also need to be taken against people who have chosen a life of crime adding that there ought to be a very strong partnership between the political leadership and security agencies through the provision of necessary and right support for optimal and result-driven service to the state.

“You and I also know the significant challenges that these security agencies face. As a state governor, you must then consider how you can support them with equipment, with incentives, and with right words to encourage them to perform optimally,” he stated.

Nweke, who is expected to pull the state to APGA, also highlighted the need for citizen participation in the security of lives and properties in their communities. He said the government cannot do it alone.

“Our citizens must understand that the government cannot do this alone. They have a role to play. Criminals are not ghosts. Criminals are not witches or wizards as some people think. These are normal human beings that live with us. Citizens must also play an important role in routing these criminals,” he said.

Nweke also said that irrespective of what the issues are, the emphasis still rests on the leadership that has the capacity to do the needful and implement strategies that would restore stability to security in the state.

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