By joshua “WEALTH WITHOUT INTEGRITY IS USELESS,” QS AMINU STATES AT KEDESS 2026 SECURITY SUMMIT, CALLS FOR NEW SECURITY ARCHITECTURE
By Christopher Sunday
ADC Senatorial Candidate Urges Parents, Community Leaders to Confront Youth Criminality and Build a Culture of Integrity
DEKINA, Kogi State, August 29, 2026 — The ADC senatorial candidate for Kogi East, Alh. Aminu Abubakar Suleiman, has warned young people against pursuing wealth through criminality, declaring that “wealth without integrity is not success.”
Suleiman made the declaration on Saturday while delivering remarks at the 6th Kogi East Neighbourhood Watch Security Summit, KEDESS 2026, held at Government Science Secondary School, Dekina.
Speaking against the backdrop of growing security challenges across Kogi East, Suleiman said the fight against kidnapping, banditry and other forms of criminality must begin from the home, with parents, traditional rulers, religious leaders and community leaders playing active roles in guiding young people.
“The home is the first school, and parents are the first teachers,” he said.
He urged parents to know their children, understand their friendships, monitor their movements and pay close attention to the influences shaping their behaviour.
“We must teach them that wealth without integrity is not success,” Suleiman said. “We must teach them that another person’s suffering cannot become our prosperity.”
He warned against glorifying individuals who acquire wealth through the suffering of innocent people, stressing that communities must create positive alternatives for young people through education, employment, entrepreneurship, skills development and economic opportunities.
“A young person with hope for the future is less vulnerable to criminal recruitment,” he said.
Suleiman also called for a stronger and more coordinated security architecture for Kogi East, built around prevention, intelligence, technology, early warning, community engagement, information sharing and rapid response.
He said the Kogi East Neighbourhood Watch had an important role to play within such an architecture but stressed the need for stronger collaboration with recognised security agencies, professional security organisations and reputable international institutions.
“Our approach should be intelligence-led, technology-enabled, community-focused and properly coordinated with the recognised security agencies of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.
The ADC candidate further urged communities to confront the uncomfortable reality that some criminal elements may emerge from within the communities they attack.
“Criminals do not come from another planet. They often come from within the communities they attack,” he said.
He called for stronger cooperation among the Kogi East Neighbourhood Watch, the Nigeria Police Force, the military, civil defence, traditional institutions, local authorities, religious organisations and community associations.
According to him, effective community security requires information to flow freely, early warnings to be taken seriously and suspicious activities to be reported through appropriate channels.
Suleiman also appealed to traditional rulers, community leaders, religious leaders and socio-cultural organisations to make security a permanent item on their community agendas and intensify engagement with young people.
He said security must remain closely connected to development, noting that farmers, traders, families and investors cannot fully realise their potential in an environment dominated by fear.
“Security is therefore the foundation upon which development must be built,” he said.
On his aspiration to represent Kogi East in the Senate in 2027, Suleiman said his vision of representation went beyond occupying a seat in Abuja.
He said he intended to use every legitimate parliamentary instrument available to advocate for the people, attract investment, support security initiatives, promote infrastructure development and pursue legislation that improves the quality of life of constituents.
He identified security and community protection, infrastructure development, investment and economic growth, youth empowerment and employment, education and skills development, agriculture and rural development, technology and innovation, healthcare and social development, as well as strategic partnerships, as key areas of focus.
“My ambition is not simply to represent Kogi East. My ambition is to help transform Kogi East,” he said.
Suleiman also reaffirmed his support for the Kogi East Neighbourhood Watch, describing it as a collective community project that must be protected through professionalism, transparency, accountability and respect for the law.
“KENW must belong to the people,” he said.
He concluded by expressing optimism that a safer Kogi East was achievable if citizens and institutions worked together.
He called for a shift from reaction to prevention, suspicion to cooperation, insecurity to intelligence, hopelessness to opportunity and division to unity.
“Together, we can protect our homeland. Together, we can empower our people. Together, we can attract investment. Together, we can give our children a better future. Together, we can move Kogi East forward,” he said.