Alhassan Doguwa (APC, Kano) has called on Nigerians to hold governors accountable for the country’s problems, not the federal government.

“I admit that there are issues. I agree with the Nigerian people that we have some itching problems, economic, social and other problems. However, I want to say that the problems bedevilling our society are not for the federal government alone to address.

“The governors are involved. Our local government councils are involved and some other agencies of government which are also fully funded to undertake their constitutional responsibilities are also involved,” stated the legislator.

He called on aggrieved Nigerians to hold their respective governors accountable for utilising public funds to provide basic amenities and address insecurity.

Mr Doguwa added, “This is why the governors are called chief security officers of their respective states, and they must be held accountable for protecting the lives and properties of their people.”

Mr Doguwa, representing the Doguwa-Tudun Wada federal constituency, stated this while addressing Kano Youth Forum officials who visited him in Kano.

He condemned the looting and vandalisation of public and private properties that characterised the 10-day nationwide protests that began on August 1 in some parts of the country.

Stressing the need for a democratic approach to solving the problems, the lawmaker, the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream) chairman, advised youths to shelve protests and adopt dialogue.

According to him, this will ensure a peaceful resolution to the burning issues.

Mr Doguwa noted that the current economic crisis was not peculiar to Nigeria.

He said, “So, for me, it is a collective responsibility, and as such, not right to continue to blame the federal government. While I am not holding brief for the government, I agree that our people are really facing a lot of problems, and the government must be held responsible for that.

“People must understand that the problems we are facing today and the way to go about finding solutions to them does not lie on the shoulders of the federal government alone. We all have to contribute, whether as individuals, organisations, or associations, to solve our problems for the good of all.”

The lawmaker stated that President Bola Tinubu and other national leaders, including the governors, were ready to listen to advice and suggestions.

“This is the democratic approach that I am talking about, as against taking sticks and other dangerous weapons to the street, destroying public offices, vandalising and looting shops in the name of protest.

“This will not mean well for you. It will also not mean well for the society, and the government will not condone such acts,” he said.

(NAN)