Senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial Zone, Shehu Sani, on Tuesday disclosed why he supported President Muhammadu Buhari’s planned recruitment of 10,000 police officers.

Sani, while distributing Army recruitment forms and PIN Code to 190 youths in the seven local government of his zone at the Conference Centre of the National Teachers Institute in Kaduna, said the recruitment of 10,000 police officers by the president is not only to provide job, but also to address current security challenges in the country.

“Mr. President has done something that has never been done before because aside from the fact that, the police has been under-manned and the fact that the country is undergoing some kind of security challenges; the recruitment will provide job, as well as address current security challenges in the country,” he said.

He added: “I am the first person to suggest negotiation with Boko Haram to then President Goodluck Jonathan; when I took former President Olusegun Obasanjo to Maiduguri in 2011.

“But our efforts were frustrated, due to lack of encouragement from President Jonathan.I am offering the same opportunity to negotiate with the sect if that will bring to an end the killing and destruction of lives and properties by the sect.”

According to Sani, while it is important for the Nigerian Government to adopt both the stick and carrot approach in the fight against terror, government must also effectively equip and motivate the security forces to enable them sustain the ongoing bombardment of the insurgents.

Sani said the distribution of Nigeria Army Forms and PIN is a gesture to assist young men and women within my district so that they can enlist into Nigerian Army. He added that the aim is to help unemployed youths from poor family background with the forms PIN Code in order to become useful to the society and to directly contribute in bringing lasting peace and security in the country.

The activist-turned-politician said that 20 forms will be distributed to youths from each of the seven LGAs namely: Kaduna North, Kaduna South, Chikun, Igabi, Giwa, while 50 others will be distributed to other parts of the state.

He expressed his concern that in the past youths, especially from his zone could not make tangible contribution against current security challenges in the country because they have missed recruitment opportunities in Nigerian Customs Service, Police, Nigerian Army, Immigration, Civil Defence and Nigerian Prisons Service.

Sani told the beneficiaries: “I have made it a priority that young men and women from my zone will never miss any opportunity of recruitment into any institution and organisations anymore.

“So long as I am on this seat, no insect or idol can prevent you from achieving your goals of becoming useful to the society.

“As a senator, I am in Abuja for you, I will always do whatever I can for you to have a future that Nigeria will be proud of. This is not a political gathering, but I have also provided transport and feeding for the candidates.”

He advised politicians especially in the north to emulate their counterparts in the south by assisting youths instead of giving then handouts.

One of the beneficiaries Sani Shehu from Birnin Gwari LGA, who spoke on other beneficiaries, thanked the Senator for the good gesture and promised to be useful to the society.

•Photo shows Senator Shehu Sani.