The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has faulted the security arrangements around Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu’s private residence in Calabar following reports of alleged burglaries in nearby homes.
Atiku said residents of the estate where the governor’s residence is situated had raised concerns over repeated break-ins despite the presence of armed police officers and two roadblocks mounted to secure the governor’s property.
He disclosed that one resident had reportedly lost an air conditioner and a freezer to burglars, while another said two houses on a nearby street were burgled last week.
The former Vice President made the remarks in a post on his X account on Tuesday, questioning the difference between the security provided for the governor and the protection available to other residents in the neighbourhood.
According to him, the governor has been operating from his private residence for nearly three years while the Government House undergoes renovation, leaving residents in the surrounding area vulnerable to security threats.
“This is security, APC style: two roadblocks for the governor, and none for the people next door,” Atiku said.
He also questioned the APC-led government’s ability to tackle insecurity across the state, asking what it could offer communities outside Calabar if people living close to the governor’s residence could not sleep peacefully.
Atiku further highlighted his proposed security reforms, promising to reposition the Nigeria Police Force from what he described as a regime-protecting institution into a citizen-focused public service.
He said his administration would increase police personnel towards the international benchmark of one officer for every 450 citizens to strengthen security coverage across communities.
The ADC presidential candidate also pledged to establish community-based security and intelligence networks to help residents identify and report threats before criminal activities take place.
“Security that stops at the governor’s gate is not security; it is a fence,” he added.