Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State has advised President Goodluck Jonathan-led Federal Government to follow due process in the procurement of arms to confront the Boko Haram insurgency in the North.
This was just as his counterpart in Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, who described laws and constitutionality, as the bedrock of any nation, said the application of the Cremation and Public Health Laws gave his state a breakthrough in its fight against the dreaded Ebola virus disease (EVD).
Speaking in Ado Ekiti yesterday, after commissioning the Ire Burnt Brick Industry revamped by Governor Kayode Fayemi, Kwankwaso stated that the seizure of over $15 million by South Africa security from some Nigerians under the guise of procuring arms for the Nigerian Army, could be counter-productive, except the country took a decisive action to check the recurrence.
Kwankwaso also urged that all well-meaning Nigerians must rise up to protect the judiciary for the sustenance of the country’s fledging democracy, describing the alleged invasion of courts in Ekiti State by hoodlums a couple of weeks ago as high point of impunity.
The governor said: “As a former Minister of Defence, I am quite aware that there are rules of engagement in the procurement of arms. We have to follow due process so that the process will not be abused and that the country will not be ridiculed.
“Procurement of arms goes beyond buying of pepper and tomato. It looks unbelievable that money of that magnitude could be put in aircraft and ferried to another country without looking at the consequences of such action. That is why the Federal Government must take up the responsibility to ensure that all the necessary guidelines are followed.
“As much as all right-thinking Nigerians must join the fight against terror, the Federal Government should do whatever it can, in terms of procurement of equipment and in the area of operations to ensure that the rules are not broken.
In his presentation on the two laws just enacted in Ekiti State, the Magistrate Court Law 2014 and Administration of Criminal Justice Law 2014, Governor Fashola advocated the preservation of law and protection of officers of the law.
He said the application of Public Health Law and Cremation Law helped the state in tackling the EVD when a Liberian, Patrick Sawyerr, imported it to Lagos State in July.
Fashola said: “From the time we are born to the time we die, our activities are governed by laws. Without law, a society will have its development retarded or even reversed.
“We must therefore guide against impunity if we really want our nation to develop and not be left behind by others. A situation whereby people contravene the law and they go scot free, is unacceptable and the earlier we wake up and do the right things, the better for us,” he said.

Procurement of arms: Kwankwaso tasks FG on due process