FROM NOAH EBIJE, KADUNA

Governors of the states bordering the dreaded Ka¬muku Forest of Kaduna, where series of criminal activities have been on¬going for years met yes¬terday with Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai to find solution to rising fears of being a future nest for Boko Ha¬ram insurgents.
According to El-Rufai, “the forest which is in the centre of Kaduna, Niger, Katsina, Kebbi and Zam¬fara has been of serious se¬curity concern. So, we need to address it because that forest is capable of breed¬ing future Boko Haram.”
The five Governors of Kaduna, Katsina, Niger, Zamfara and Kebbi met and brainstormed on ways of addressing the security threats posed by the evil forest.
Though, the resolution of the meeting was not disclosed after the meet¬ing which was held behind closed doors at the Kaduna State Government House, the host Governor Nasir El-Rufai told newsmen that, their discussion was mainly about security of their states.
El-Rufai said, “So, we have just met to brainstorm with a view to fashion¬ing out a coordinated ap¬proach in tackling the secu¬rity challenges in our states. This has become necessary to avoid spill over.
“We met with security chiefs in charge of our re¬spective states so that, we can as quickly as possible bring an end to the loss of lives, cattle rustling and loss of property”, El-Rufai said.
He, however, disclosed that, the five state gover¬nors have the full support of the federal government in their move to secure the states.
Governor El-Rufai who had earlier addressed his first Town Hall Meeting reiterated his government’s commitment to devote the state resources to people oriented projects.
According to him, “The new government of Ka¬duna State has declared that the resources of the state will be devoted to serving the public, with schools, hospitals and roads; aiding our farmers and doing our utmost to create jobs.
“To do that, we must cut the cost of running govern¬ment. Ours will no longer be the state that has too lit¬tle left for the needs of the majority of the people. That is our guiding principle as we reduce costs. And we have taken concrete action in this regard.
“We have restructured our ministries from 19 to 13. We have also decided that we will have only 13 commissioners, 10 special advisers and 12 special as¬sistants. You all remember that the previous govern¬ment had 24 commission-ers, 41 special advisers and about 400 special assistants. But good governance is not about recruiting vast num¬bers of political appoin¬tees. It is about the smallest number that can provide the quality of service that is re¬quired. ” He said.
El-Rufai while further lamenting the condition he found the state, how¬ever promised that, he shall never use that as an excuse for non-performance. He added that, “It is our duty to do our best always. That is why we are finding cre¬ative, even if difficult ways to deliver on our promises.”