Erstwhile Governor of Adamawa state, Bala James Ngillari, has observed that it is too early for politicians to begin to agitate for 2023 elections, but rather those in governance should pool their weight towards investing in skills acquisition for young people with a view to changing their psyche as a pivot to fight insecurity.
According to him, the current spate of kidnapping, armed banditry, farmer and herder clashes, Boko Haram, activities of Shila boys and other social vices bedeveilling the society must be the main concern of those in position of authority, and should strive assiduously towards curtailing them for peace and development in the society.
He advocated for the involvement of the traditional institutions in fighting insecurity in the society, saying that appropriate logistics support should be advanced to the institutions, and added that the issue of security challenges should be approached holistically.
Ngillari who was speaking at a town hall meeting in Yola, the Adamawa state capital on Saturday, said that as far as he is concerned, it is premature for him to begin to talk about future elections, saying that he will talk about it, and whether he has interest to contest for any elective position when the time is ripe.
The former Governor informed the gathering that he cross carpeted from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the opposition All Progressive Congress(APC) for better accommodation, saying that he wants to be where he will be recognised and accorded attention he deserves.
He further stated that everybody wants to be recognised as human being in life, saying that he was not only the Governor, Deputy Governor, Member of the National Assembly, but Member of the Board of Trustees of the PDP, and that he deserves a better recognition for that in his former party.
When fielding question on lack of continuity in the act of governance more especially in the country, he told the gathering that every government that comes to power has its preferences, pointing out that it is left for the government in power to consolidate on the achievements recorded by the past government or not.
He lamented that hardly in Nigeria for those coming to power to continue where their predecessors stopped, but rather they will want to start something afresh, saying that if he were in government today, he will accord premium attention on skills acquisition for the youths to drastically reduce poverty and idleness.
He said that in his humble view, establishing skills acquisition centers is the best way to go with a view to empowering young stars to become self reliant in the society, saying that if all the students that are graduating from schools are thinking of getting government's job, they are getting it wrong, explaining that tomorrow's world will be a world where people with talents can survive.
According to him, the first set of youths who graduated from their government's skills acquisition centers were all employed by Aliko Dangote, saying that training the youth on carpentry, soap making, tailoring, catering among several other fields remain the best way to go if actually there is political will to fight poverty and idleness.
On whether he was convicted or not, the ex-Governor averred that he stood trial in court on several count charges not because he diverted or embezzled public money, but because of some vested interest, saying that he has been discharged and acquitted accordingly.
He disclosed that if everybody will start doing what is right, the society will be a better place for all, stating that people want a better change, but they do not want to change themselves.
During the town hall meeting, several participants asked questions on topical issues ranging insecurity, economy, youth and women empowerment programmes, policies and programme of Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri led administration and on whether he has interest in contesting election or not and the way forward for most especially Adamawa and Nigeria.
The event which was hosted and anchored by Peter Chema Koti, attracted participants not only from Yola, the state capital but across Local Government Areas in the state who pleaded with the organisers to continue to organise such interactive sessions so as to enable them deliberate on issues affecting the state and the nation at large.
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