Oyo State Governor and presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Seyi Makinde, has challenged President Bola Tinubu’s administration to provide greater clarity on the plan to establish additional military divisions as part of efforts to tackle insecurity across the country.

Makinde spoke during an APM Town Hall meeting in the North-Central, where he questioned the planning behind the proposed expansion of military formations.

According to him, the Federal Government should not establish new military divisions without adequate planning and consultation with relevant stakeholders.

Makinde also questioned whether the increased allocations to state governments from the Federation Account had translated into improved living conditions for Nigerians, particularly in addressing hunger.

He acknowledged that state governments were receiving more allocations but that the increase had not sufficiently addressed the economic hardship confronting citizens.

The governor said when he assumed office in 2019, Oyo State depended on federal allocations for almost 80 per cent of its revenue.

In a related campaign engagement, Accord Party (AP) presidential candidate Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim used a visit to the Omo Ibile Igbomina House in Ganmo, Kwara State, to highlight his stance on national unity and cultural diversity.

Hashim said the nation doesn’t need to erase its cultural differences to achieve national cohesion.

Meanwhile, the Oyo State House of Assembly has passed the constitutional amendment bill seeking to establish state police services, paving the way for the state to transmit its resolution to the National Assembly.

The bill was passed for third reading during plenary yesterday after the state lawmakers considered its provisions clause by clause at the Committee of the Whole.

However, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has assured Lagos residents and visitors that the government would continue to strengthen security.

In a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, the governor said: “We will not relent on our efforts to ensure that criminals don’t find a place for their evil activities in the state.”

“The Governor met today, September 29, with security chiefs at the State House Marina. He was briefed on all security activities and plans to strengthen the system ahead of the end-of -year activities.” (The Guardian)