Zamfara State governor, Dauda Lawal, has alleged that political inference is the main challenge in defeating insurgents wreaking havoc in the country.
He said the Nigerian military has the wherewithal to crush the terrorists if there is no political interference.
Mr Lawal stated this during the Town Hall on Security organised by Channels Television on Wednesday.
“There is so much political interference in this country.
“Political interference is the major factor here. If we don’t have that, the military have the capacity to crush anybody. Remember, we do have our forces in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and they did very well.”
He also lamented his inability as the chief security officer of the state to fully take control of security.
“By name, I am the chief security officer of my state, but when it comes to command and control, I don’t have control over any of the security outfits, whether the military, the police, or civil defence,” he said.
“They take their instructions from their superiors, not from the governors. We don’t have that control, I wish we do have, it would have been a different story.”
Reacting to a poll conducted by the TV station X, where 82 per cent of Nigerians voted corruption and political will as the biggest challenge for security agencies in fighting insecurity in the country, the governor said, “from my opening remark I told you the major challenge is the political will and look at the answer that Nigerians gave, 82 percent said political will”.
“That has been the issue, if there is no political will in all these things believe me within a matter of time we will be able to solve all these political challenges in the country,” Mr Lawal added.
