Masari says there’s no joy governing Katsina because insecurity gives him sleepless nights

Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State says there is no joy in governing a state that is plagued with insecurity.

The governor said the security situation in his state has been giving him sleepless nights.

Masari said this during an interview with DW Hausa on Friday, July 30, 2021.

He said, “In this difficult time and uncertainty, all the issue of governance has been dominated by security matters from sunset to dawn. I receive security reports at any moment through many channels daily.”

He said the security situation in Katsina is alarming, adding that many Nigerians believe governors are enjoying themselves.

He said, “No sensible leader who has the feeling of his people at heart will be happy in such situation”.

“Governing in this difficult time I see no joy that people are saying we are enjoying.

“In this kind of situation, we are having sleepless nights. You only have a few hours to sleep with your phone beneath your ears and whoever calls you at midnight won’t do that to greet you but to tell you a problem that is happening.

“People misunderstood us (governors) as people enjoying themselves. Some people are just assuming things and we must not assume what we think is right because if someone is not in the system, he cannot understand the situation.

“The irony of this life is that a governor is being escorted with screaming siren so is the criminal being taken to prison, the dead person in an ambulance and firefighters all use sirens. So what is the joy about the sirens?

“The paramount thing about governance is that once you are at the helm of affairs, always prepare to leave. You must not allow yourself to be carried away by the arrogance of power.”

Katsina is one of the northern states, where insecurity is rife with bandits and kidnappers terrorising the state.