Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi has called for more support for the military formations to enable them overcome kidnapping, banditry and attendant killings.
Fayemi hailed Army’s peace-keeping efforts in the Northeast, where it has been battling insurgency in the last 10 years and succeeded in upholding the nation’s territorial integrity.
The governor gave the commendation while receiving in audience the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Division of the Nigerian Army, Ibadan, Maj.-Gen. Anthony Bamidele Omozeje and other officers who were on tour of military formations and units under the division.
Fayemi, who spoke through his deputy, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, assured that the government of Ekiti State would not rest on its oars to continue to give the needed support to boost the morale of the men and officers of the Army in the state.
According to a statement issued yesterday by the Special Assistant (Media) to the Deputy Governor, Odunayo Ogunmola, Omozeje was on an official visit to Army unit in the state to assess the welfare of soldiers and see what could be done to come to their aid.
The governor, who wanted the military to prioritise the safety of lives and property of Ekiti people, said he was expecting the Federal Government to give drones to the men of Nigerian forces serving in the state to be able to fish out miscreants.
Fayemi assured that his administration would complement the efforts of the Federal Government in making men of the military comfortable in discharging their responsibilities.
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He said: “We appreciate your efforts and we know what you are doing in the country as a whole. This is not an easy time for soldiers in the country; we are all humans, we know what you are going through and we really appreciate.
“I know you are everywhere in the country. The work you are doing in the far North is courageous. We need to thank all the soldiers that are involved and your boss, Lt.-Gen. (Tukur) Buratai; he’s always in the picture of all things. I salute his courage.
“On behalf of the governor and good people of my state, we are appreciating the good efforts of the Army.
“We will try our best to make sure that the Federal Government do what they should do to make them comfortable in discharging their duties.
“If there is anything we are supposed to do for your people in this area, you can be assured of that. You have your station in Ekiti here. We were thinking you would have brought everything down there now, but we are still expecting to complement what you intend to bring down there.”
Omozoje hailed the support the Army has been receiving from the state government in discharging their duties of keeping the state safe.
The GOC, who delivered the goodwill of Buratai, promised that the military would work together with the state government to ensure safety of lives and property.