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The Zamfara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has described the call by the factional All Progressives Congress in the state to declare a state of emergency as baseless and disrespectful to the people.
Earlier on Sunday, the Zamfara State chapter of the APC called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency across the state to allow the fight against banditry to succeed.
In a statement signed by the spokesperson for the party, Yusuf Idris, the party accused Governor Dauda Lawal of sabotaging the efforts of the Federal Government in the fight against banditry in the state through media campaigns.
While addressing journalists in Gusau on Sunday, the spokesperson for the PDP, Halliru Andi, said the opposition APC members were scared by the developmental strides made under Lawal’s leadership.
Andi stressed that the call for a state of emergency by the APC was unfounded and deeply disrespectful to the resilient people of the state.
He maintained that the PDP-led administration in the state focused on rectifying the maladministration that characterised 25 years of the APC governance.
Andi further said the APC’s call was an attempt to undermine the good performance of Lawal.
He said, “It is evident that the APC fears the scorecard of Governor Lawal and that is why they are calling for the state of emergency.
“Their attempts to undermine Governor Lawal’s efforts reflect a desperate need to salvage their political careers as the 2027 elections approach.
“The call for a state of emergency is unfounded and deeply disrespectful to the resilient people of Zamfara State.
“The APC conveniently overlooks the troubling legacy of former Governor Bello Matawalle, whose misguided approach to banditry involved cozying up to warlords.”
Andi added that “His 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.
“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 PDP spokesperson said the unfounded claims that Lawal was sabotaging the fight against banditry in Zamfara State was a political move to undermine our ongoing efforts to address insecurity in the state.
He said, “Governor Lawal was the first in the 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 have 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.”
Andi added that the PDP administration led by Governor Dauda Lawal has taken steps, including the establishment of Community Protection Guards and the creation of a Security Trust Fund to support conventional security forces.
He said, “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”.
He said that, at no point did former Governor Matawalle expressed a willingness to collaborate with Lawal in addressing insecurity.
“Furthermore, Mr Matawalle, now Minister of State for Defence, has shown a lack of competence and empathy for the people of Zamfara.
“His secret negotiations with bandits, conducted without Governor Lawal’s knowledge, directly undermined the current administration’s firm stance against reconciliation with bandits.
“Following the failure of these negotiations, he falsely claimed that Governor Lawal approved 1.3 billion naira in one fabricated memo for reconciliation processes, a baseless assertion.”
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