APC to Tinubu: Declare State of Emergency on Zamfara, to aid banditry war

•Don’t be intimidated by Gov Lawal’s strides, PDP replies
•Says emergency rule uncalled for

From Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau

The All Progressives Congress (APC), Zamfara State chapter, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare a state of emergency on Zamfara State over alleged sabotage of banditory fight, ostensibly by the state government.
Imposition of emergency rule, the APC argued, will consolidate the ongoing military operations against the banditry and other related high profile criminality in Zamfara and Northwest at large,
A statement by the Zamfara State Publicity Secretary of the APC, Malam Yusuf Idris, said the current onslaught on bandits/terrorists in Zamfara State by the military in the north western states under the coordination/supervision of the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Mohammed Matawalle on the directives of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is yielding positive outcome.
According to it, the bandits’ leaders and their gangs who hitherto thought they were powerful as they laid siege on the region have so far been subdued by the current development which needs to be sustained at all cost so that the region will be free from all form of criminalities.
“But as a party, we observe with dismay how the Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal is trying to sabotage the ongoing onslaught through his media campaigns to distract the effort of the federal government under the coordination of the Minister of State for Defence to succeed because the ongoing military operations is scuttling his 2027 campaigns plan,” the APC alleged.
“The Governor has never in anyway supported military operations in the state in terms of logistics, rather he has been too confrontational that at one point, the military had to warn him to steer clear from their activities and efforts to flush out bandits from the state in particular and north western states in general.
“He is of the belief that he can now use the operation to his own advantage and also further fight the Minister of State for Defence, as he is blinded along with his co-travellers by the fact that the successful current military operations are being coordinated and supervised by the Minister to his disappointment.
“He is now bent on distracting the operation through media campaigns and propaganda just as he is toying with the security of lives and properties of innocent Zamfara citizens for his political gains which is why we are calling on the federal government to declare a State of Emergency on Zamfara.
“This need is highly desirable so that the operation can go unhindered and the security operatives can go into the state without the Governor and Government of Zamfara politicizing the manhunt as the state Governor, Dauda Lawal has already begun by portraying himself as if he’s the sole sponsor of the operation for which he has no hand.
“On many opportunities, Matawalle had offered himself both as Minister of Defence and as a citizen of Zamfara to partner with the Governor in fighting the bandits even before the situation escalated to when the acts of banditry, kidnappings for ransom and other heinous crimes became daily affair but all he got was bashing from the Governor and his men.
“The president, concerned by the general outcry, directed the Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Mohammed Matawalle to lead the Defence Headquarters with the Chief of Defence Staff and coordinate a complete elimination of the bandits operating in the region for the return of peace throughout the area and the country as a whole.”
The statement said following directives, the troops have effectively carried out the onerous task, decimating the criminals, their leaders and camps and receiving accolades, but not from the state Governor nor his team.
“The Governor has now…turned to politicizing and indirectly fighting Matawalle by revisiting his (Dauda’s) earlier accusations that Matawalle embezzled Zamfara money, left nothing for the incoming administration as well as buying airtime at some media outlets to claim being the one coordinating the fight alongside the military without any recognition of Minister’s.
“At a point in one of his TV interviews, Governor Dauda sarcastically asked saying “who’s Matawalle, am dealing with the Minister of Defence, Badaru, National Security Adviser and the President and I don’t need Matawalle”, when in reality, it’s Matawalle who was charged with the responsibility which saw the elimination of the most dangerous bandit, Haliru Sububu giving confidence to Nigerians that the others too will soon follow by meeting their Waterloo.
“While the Governor keeps linking Matawalle to bandits, the Turji bandits kingpin about two months ago, openly said he was aware that some bandits were being harboured in the Government House Gusau to which we raised the alarm but up to date, the Government never came out to deny that, thus, if anyone is to be investigated over bandits, Governor Dauda should be first”, the APC alleged.
In a quick reaction, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Zamfara State has denied the claim by the APC that there was discovery which featured Governor Dauda Lawal as he embarked upon activities meant to derail the Federal Government efforts in the fights against banditry and other criminality in the state.
The denial was disclosed in a press conference by the State Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Malam Halliru Andi, at the State Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Zamfara State Council Gusau, saying, the call to impose State of Emergency on the state by the APC is a clear indication the giant and developmental strides of Governor Dauda-led administration appeared intimidating to them.
According to Halliru Andi, the PDP administration is focused on rectifying the maladministration that characterized 25 years of APC governance, and it is evident that the APC fears the scorecard of Governor Lawal.
Therefore, attempts to undermine his efforts reflect a desperate need to salvage their political careers as the 2027 elections approach, the PDP said.
“The call for a State of Emergency is unfounded and deeply disrespectful to the resilient people of Zamfara State.
“Matawalle’s administration’s failure to ensure security was characterized by a disturbing pattern of accommodation, including providing Hilux vehicles and substantial financial rewards to bandits, while allowing them unrestricted access to Government House,” the PDP alleged.
“As a result, the citizens of Zamfara have experienced the dire consequences of this recklessness, with bandits attacking communities and finding refuge within the very corridors of power.
“The unfounded claims that Governor Dauda Lawal is sabotaging the fight against banditry in Zamfara State is a political move to undermine our ongoing efforts to address insecurity in the state. Governor Lawal is the first in our state’s history to prioritize security with genuine commitment, contrasting sharply with the previous APC administrations.
“Unlike the APC which has politicized the serious issue of insecurity, the PDP’s administration is committed to the peace and stability of Zamfara state. The successes we’ve seen against banditry are a direct result of Governor Lawal’s steadfast approach, refusing to engage in reconciliation with criminals. This principled stance has set a clear and firm direction in our fight against banditry.
“The PDP administration led by Governor Dauda Lawal has taken significant steps, including the establishment of Community Protection Guards (CPG) and the creation of a Security Trust Fund to support conventional security forces. Just a few weeks ago, Governor Lawal distributed vehicles to enhance the operational capabilities of our security agencies, demonstrating his unwavering dedication to this critical issue.
“The APC’s allegations are nothing more than desperate propaganda. At no point did former Governor Matawalle express a willingness to collaborate with Governor Lawal in addressing insecurity.
“Following the failure of these negotiations, Matawalle falsely claimed that Governor Lawal approved 1.3 billion naira in one fabricated memo for reconciliation processes, a baseless assertion.
“We call upon President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to sack Bello Matawalle from his position as Minister of State for Defense.
“It is imperative that the federal government investigate Matawalle’s actions…which have been a clear impediment to effective governance.
“We urge the APC to focus on genuine issues affecting Zamfara rather than resorting to baseless accusations and distractions. Governor Dauda Lawal remains resolute in his commitment to transforming the state and will not be deterred by the opposition’s unfounded claims. The people of Zamfara deserve better, and this administration is dedicated to delivering on that promise”, the Publicity Secretary said.