Tinubu woos Plateau voters with 1,000 forest guards, surveillance cameras
By Kazeem Ugbodaga
President Bola Tinubu has sought the support of Plateau voters for his re-election in 2027, promising improved security through the deployment of surveillance cameras and 1,000 trained forest guards to tackle insecurity in the state.
Tinubu made the appeal on Saturday at the All Progressives Congress (APC) North-Central campaign rally at the 60,000-capacity Zaria Road Stadium in Jos, where he urged residents to support him, Governor Caleb Mutfwang and other APC candidates in the forthcoming elections.
The President said surveillance cameras earlier promised to Plateau had arrived in Nigeria and would soon be installed, while 1,000 forest guards recruited by the Federal Government were undergoing training ahead of their deployment.
According to him, the forest guards would complement existing security agencies by monitoring forests and other vulnerable locations to strengthen security operations.
The security assurances come amid persistent security challenges in Plateau, where communities have suffered attacks, displacement and other threats.
Tinubu also called for unity and peaceful coexistence among Nigerians, irrespective of their religious, ethnic and cultural differences, saying the country’s diversity should strengthen its collective identity.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima, who also addressed the rally, credited the progress recorded in Plateau and other parts of the country to what he described as Tinubu’s “transformational and courageous leadership.”
Shettima praised Plateau residents for their contributions to national development in education, agriculture, the military, trade, culture and sports, describing the people as “a gift to the nation.”
He urged them to support Tinubu, Mutfwang and other APC candidates, saying the party was seeking a renewed mandate to continue its programmes.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, in his remarks, disclosed that the creation of state police was in the pipeline as part of efforts to strengthen security across the country.
The APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, also highlighted the Federal Government’s security commitments to Plateau, including surveillance cameras, forest guards, two army battalions, a brigade and four security command centres.
Describing Tinubu as a “promise keeper,” Yilwatda urged residents to reward the administration with their votes in 2027, arguing that federal projects and security interventions demonstrated its commitment to the state.
Governor Mutfwang, who welcomed the President to Jos, expressed appreciation for federal support in road infrastructure, education and healthcare.
He said his administration had continued to explain the benefits of federal initiatives to residents, adding that cooperation between the state and federal governments would accelerate development.
The governor also highlighted programmes aimed at addressing unemployment, transportation and security challenges.
He disclosed that an initiative was being developed to provide remote employment opportunities for about 2,000 young people working with organisations in the United States and Europe.
Mutfwang further announced plans to deploy a technology-driven command centre to strengthen crime detection and security operations.
On transportation, he said additional compressed natural gas (CNG) buses were being introduced to ease the movement of residents.
Acknowledging that security challenges remained, the governor expressed optimism that continued government intervention would enable displaced residents to return to their ancestral homes.
Also speaking, Director-General of the Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, urged Plateau residents to support Tinubu’s re-election, praising the administration’s economic management.
Yari argued that increased federal revenue would provide governments with more resources to deliver infrastructure and other public services.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, also called on voters to return Tinubu and Mutfwang to office, urging residents to compare the projects delivered by previous administrations with those being executed by the current governments.
Former Plateau governors Joshua Dariye and Simon Lalong, former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Ahmed Wase, and former Deputy Governor Pauline Tallen also pledged support for Tinubu.
They cited federal projects in the state and the appointment of Plateau indigenes to strategic national positions, including Yilwatda’s emergence as APC national chairman.
At the rally, Yilwatda presented APC flags to governors seeking re-election and governorship candidates in Nasarawa and Kwara states, Aliyu Wadada and Yakubu Danladi, respectively.
He charged them to treat the flags as a symbol of responsibility and work towards electoral victories at all levels.
The rally attracted several serving and former governors, ministers, lawmakers and presidential aides.