The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, has asked Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State to stop turning security issues into politics and instead focus on solving the problems facing the state.

Senator Barau was reacting to claims made by the Kano State Government after its 34th Executive Council Meeting. The government had alleged that one of his statements could weaken ongoing security efforts. Barau said those allegations were false and insisted that insecurity in the country, including bandit attacks in parts of Kano, requires cooperation from everyone.

In a statement released by his media aide, Ismail Mudashir, the senator dismissed the accusation and challenged the government to show evidence.

He said: “The attention of the media office of the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I Jibrin, CFR, FCNA, has been drawn to false, reckless and malicious claims by the Kano State Government… that His Excellency… made a statement capable of undermining the security efforts in the state.”

He added: “It is unfortunate that the state government has relegated governance to this low by concocting and fabricating lies to tarnish the growing reputation of the Deputy President of the Senate. There was no time when Senator Barau uttered any statement capable of undermining security efforts.”

Barau said he has always worked with relevant stakeholders to address insecurity in Kano and across Nigeria. He went on to challenge the government again, saying, “We challenge them to produce the clip in which the Deputy President of the Senate made any statement that could undermine security efforts.”

The senator, who is also the First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, called on Governor Yusuf to take governance more seriously.

He said, “Until governance was relegated to the background, our beloved state, Kano, used to be a very close second to Lagos in terms of prosperity, but unfortunately, misgovernance has eroded this.”

He added that Kano can return to its previous glory if the right decisions are taken, saying, “We have everything necessary to restore the glorious days of our state, but the governor is not taking steps in that direction.”

Barau also listed several security interventions he has supported in the state.

He has provided vehicles to police formations, motorcycles for officers in Kano North, renovated parts of the state police headquarters, and built police stations in several areas. He has also supported the Department of State Services (DSS) in Kano.

According to the statement, “The Deputy President of the Senate has also facilitated the establishment of the training college of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Gwarzo, the Nigeria Police Service Commission training institute in Kabo, and the Nigeria Immigration Service training school in Bichi.”

He also installed solar streetlights in many communities to help security agencies carry out night patrols.

The statement concluded that Senator Barau has made “significant contributions” to improving security in Kano and advised the state government to follow that example rather than attack his character.