At security coordination meeting: SW Governor urges stakeholders to prioritise wellbeing of population.

The meeting was an opportunity for top officials of the region to evaluate the socio-economic, development and security situation of the Region in first quarter of 2024.  

The meeting, the Governor said, was intended to ameliorate the existing synergy of actions amongst the administration, security forces, municipal leaders, frontline socio-economic actors and other living forces in the interest of the population.

The Region, according to Bernard Okalia Bilia, faces several challenges including high insecurity, the recurrence of urban criminality, a high rate of consumption of hard drugs among young people, absence of potable water, electricity and functional health facilities.

The challenges, he said, have negatively influenced the living conditions of the population. He encouraged all local officials to ensure that resources are used for the good of the people to ensure their living conditions are improved.

Addressing Senior Divisional Officers, SDOs, he encouraged them to use their oversight responsibilities over local elected officials to ensure that local councils execute projects in the interest of the population. 

The Governor also indicated the need to step up security measures as children are on holidays.

Promises hell for drug dealers

Addressing the stakeholders on the issue of hard drugs and roadside medicines plaguing the region, the Governor promised doom for all those involved. 

Drugs, he said, are destroying young people. Other drugs in circulation, he indicated, are causing other youngsters to engage in criminal acts and terrorising the population.

He said defence and security forces have been given firm instructions to arrest the situation. 

“We are going to eradicate hard drugs, which are wrecking our communities. The drugs are the fuel for criminals terrorising the population and those involved will feel the impact of our activities,” the Governor stated.

He encouraged parents, and traditional, religious and civil society leaders to join the crusade against hard drugs. He also encouraged defence and security forces to build trust with the population

The Governor called on the top brass of the defence and security forces to encourage their subordinates to demonstrate greater understanding towards the population to gain their trust and confidence. 

The administrator said such is essential in reassuring the population and winning their collaboration to strengthen security.

Orders SDOs to stay neutral in chieftaincy matters

Governor Okalia Bilai also challenged Senior Divisional Officers, SDOs to respect the law in chieftaincy matters and stay neutral. 

In Fako Division in particular, the Governor said chieftaincy squabbles have become a threat to social peace and social cohesion.

Most chieftaincy despites he said, arise not from the desire of aspirants to serve their communities or work for the interest and development of their people but more out of the highly deplorable ambition to control and confiscate community land. The Governor said the situation has left the population bitter.

To ensure such problems are minimised, he challenged SDOs to respect the directives of the Minister of Territorial Administration concerning the competent kingmakers in the designation of traditional rulers. 

The designation of new kingmakers aided by the Divisional Officers, DOs, or aspiring chiefs; he said is unacceptable.

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue No:3149 of Tuesday June 25, 2024