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The Mayor of Urhobo land, Eshanekpe Agimor Israel, known as Akpodoro, has called on Nigerians to hold state governors and local government chairmen directly responsible for the insecurity in their domains.
He argued that many governors have been lackadaisical in tackling the hydra-headed menace of violent crime, preferring instead to let President Bola Ahmed Tinubu take all the blame.
Speaking to newsmen, the Mayor alleged that certain politicians are complicit in the current wave of insecurity, deliberately scheming to undermine national stability for crass political gains.
Akpodoro, a former Niger Delta warlord, noted that since assuming office, President Tinubu has taken far-reaching reformist steps—including removing the fuel subsidy and floating the naira. These reforms, he explained, have allowed the Federal Government to judiciously double monthly allocations and security votes to states and local governments.
He questioned what governors are doing with these humongous revenues, stressing that it is time for citizens to beam a searchlight on sub-national leadership.
”The security situation in the country has deteriorated to a point where everyone, including governors and local government chairmen, must be scrutinized,” he stated.
He called on security agencies and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to collaborate closely and place any suspected accomplices under strict surveillance.
He warned that until punitive measures are applied, the poor approach of governors toward protecting their constituents will not change.
According to him, President Tinubu has proven through his actions that he is doing his best to exterminate insecurity, while governors continue to “play the ostrich” in the face of daunting challenges.
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He reminded the state executives that their duties extend beyond managing monthly federal allocations; as their primary responsibility is the protection of lives and property.
To underscore his point, Akpodoro referenced recent security reports where government functionaries were allegedly arrested for sundry crimes, including stage-managing their own kidnappings and direct involvement in violent attacks.
Quoting data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) for February 2026, the Mayor noted that no state government received less than ₦40 billion to ₦47 billion from the Federation Account, while local government councils received between ₦400 million and ₦600 million each.
The Mayor knocked governors who claim helplessness over security apparatuses in their states:
”Every state has a Commissioner of Police, a military brigade command, a directorate of the DSS, and other security apparatuses domiciled within its borders. It is therefore thought-provoking to hear a sitting governor claim he is not in control of security. If you don’t have control, why collect security votes? The truth is, some governors are sabotaging the President’s efforts.”
Shifting his focus to Oyo State, Akpodoro criticized Governor Seyi Makinde over his handling of a recent security breach.
”Look at the recent kidnap incident in Oyo State, where Governor Seyi Makinde chose politics over the lives of the people who voted him into power. For a governor who refused to endorse state policing, what more can one imagine other than questioning his moral integrity? Nigerians should stop blaming President Tinubu and start questioning their governors, who treat security votes as personal take-home pay while failing to fund local security agencies,” he said.
He charge Makinde to rise to the occasion and ensure the safe return of the abducted school children to their parents.
