National Security Adviser, (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) has assured that the federal government will enhance collaboration with Kano state government in protecting lives and property, just as he urges the media to apply restraint in reporting issues involving national security.
Col. Dasuki was in Kano to appraise security challenges facing the state following the Boko Haram menace that has claimed hundreds of lives in northern Nigeria.
He told Governor Rabi’u Kwankwaso at Kano Government House during a courtesy visit that the Federal Government was ready to partner with him to ensure that peace and order return to the state.
“Considering the importance of Kano, a major economic hub, the last place anybody would want any disruption is Kano. The effect of anything in Kano is like say when Nigeria sneezes, the sub-region catches cold. It is the same thing that if Kano sneezes, all of us will catch cold in terms of the fever. Therefore we would want to make sure that did not happen, that is why we are here,” Dasuki said.
He used the opportunity to caution journalists against misquoting him pointed that that his experience with them is not a very good one. He therefore appealed to them to be mindful of their responsibilities and avoid sensational journalism.
Col. Dasuki added:“My experience with the media has so far not been a very good one. Normally, what happens is that some people record what I have said and once they are out, everybody tries to translate what I said and somehow in the process of translation the meaning is lost”.
“And some of the things I said were not reflected and those that I didn’t say were somehow stated as having been said. I would like to caution you that you should be very careful with what you report and most of the places I visit, the media has been one of the problems and it is all this idea of sensational journalism that everybody wants to publish a story that is not necessarily a story to make good headlines”, he observed.
Responding, Governor Rabi’u Kwankwaso expressed happiness that since the appointment of Col. Dasuki as National Security Adviser, so many things have changed for good in the country. He promised that the government and people of the state will join hands with the NSA to make his job a success.
Governor Kwankwaso stated that the government will partner with the citizenry to make the state a better place for all appealed to members of the National Assembly to do what they can at the national level to make sure that the security of lives and property in Kano is guaranteed.
He thanked security agencies in the state for being up and doing in making sure that peace returns to Kano, hoping the spirit will remain alive.