APC’s Call For State Of Emergency Disrespectful To  Zamfara People – PDP

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Zamfara State chapter, has alleged that its main rival, the All Progressive Congress, APC,  is bent on undermining the efforts of the Governor Dauda Lawal- administration in combating banditry and insurgency.

This is even as it insisted that APC’s demand for the declaration of a state of emergency, amounts to a gross disrespect to the sensibilities of the people.

The PDP’s accusation is coming in response to APC’s  charge that the State Government is not comfortable with the Federal authorities renewed onslaught against criminal elements in Zamfara and neighbouring states of recent.

In a statement issued on Saturday September 21, 2024 by its Spokesman, Yusuf Idris, the state APC noted that the ongoing onslaught against bandits and other terrorist groups by the military in the North West Region has been recording an unprecedented positive result.

However, it regretted that the PDP-led administration in the State so far deliberately seeks to sabotage the efforts through orchestrated media campaigns.

“As a party, we have observed with dismay how the Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, is trying to sabotage the ongoing onslaught against bandits, through media campaigns aimed at distracting the Federal Government’s efforts under the coordination of the Minister of State for Defence.

“The Governor has never in any way supported military operations in the State in terms of logistics. Instead, he has been confrontational to the point where the military had to warn him to steer clear of their efforts to flush out baby bandits from the state and the North West.

“He is now bent on distracting the operation through Media campaigns and propaganda, risking the security of lives and properties of innocent Zamfara citizens for political gains”, the APC stated .

Consequently the APC called for a declaration of a state of emergency to enable the operation proceed unhindered and without any further interference from the Governor.

But in a statement on Sunday, September 22, 2024, by its Publicity Secretary, Haliru Andi, the PDP vehemently rejected APC’s allegations, insisting that the call by the opposition party for a state of emergency is distractive and condemnable.

“The unfounded claims that Governor Dauda Lawal is sabotaging the fight against banditry in Zamfara is a political move to undermine our ongoing efforts to address insecurity in the state.

“The PDP administration is focused on rectifying the maladministration that characterized the years of APC governance, and it is evident that the APC feels the scorecard of Governor Lawal.

“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 politicized the serious issue of insecurity, the PDP administration is committed to the peace and stability of Zamfara state .

“APC Calling for a state of emergency was deeply disrespectful to the people of Zamfara ,and signify that APC was intimidated by Governor Lawal’s leadership”, the PDP noted