Kogi, Ondo plan to tackle border insecurity

Governments of Kogi and Ondo States have reiterated commitments to synergising and collaborating to ensure security of their border towns.

The two states made the commitment when the Deputy Governor of Kogi, Mr Edward Onoja, paid his Ondo State counterpart, Mr Lucky Ayedatiwa, a courtesy visit in his office in Akure on Monday.

Onoja, who congratulated Ayedatiwa on the recent victory of his boss, Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, at the Supreme Court, said that governments would intensify efforts on security issues.

He said that as sister states, there must be synergy to ensure that people go about their normal businesses and sleep with their two eyes closed, assuring that governors of the two states were on top of the situation.

“First, congratulations to the people of Ondo State on behalf of the good people of Kogi State and my principal, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, on Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu’s resounding victory at the Supreme Court.

“As sister states, the synergy will be on security, which is one of the plaguing issues in the country today. The two governors, as chief security officers, are on top of their jobs to ensure that the citizens of their states are well secured.

“Basically, I can say that my boss is on top of his job in that regard, likewise his colleague and friend in Ondo State.

“They are both leaving no stone unturned in ensuring that their people are safe and going about their normal businesses.

“States can synergise and collaborate to rid criminal elements off our society. That is one area I believe the two states can work together for the common good of their people,”he said.

Welcoming his guest, Ayedatiwa said that apart from both states being in the same political party, the visit showed that there was cooperation between them.

He expressed happiness that the relationship between both governments had been cordial and beneficial to people of both states, especially those in the border towns.

“It is obvious that there is cooperation. Apart from the fact that we belong to the same political party, APC, and that we share borders together, my boss and his Kogi counterpart are friends.

“Even the primaries that saw Akeredolu becoming the APC governorship flag bearer for the second time was supervised by his Kogi counterpart.

“In terms of governance and political activities and for the fact that we share borders together, we can collaborate in the area of security.

“So, we have a very cordial brotherly relationship that is beneficial to the people of Ondo State,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the visiting Kogi deputy governor was hosted for his birthday by members of Ondo State Executive Council.