Gov Lawal Obstructing Ongoing Fed Govt Operation Against  Bandits, APC Demands

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

With the festering banditry and other violent criminal activities in Zamfara exerting its toll on both human and capital resources, and with no sign of abetting in sight, the All Progressive Congress, APC, has called for the declaration of a state of emergency.

This is even as it has ridiculously accused the State Governor Dauda Lawal of deliberately undermining the Federal Government efforts at containing insecurity in the Zamfara.

The Party, however, insisted that the recent efforts of the President Bola Tinubu’s administration in halting banditry and other criminal activities are yielding positive results.

In a statement issued on Saturday, September 21, 2024, in Gusau, the State Capital, Publicity Secretary, APC Zamfara State Chapter, Yusuf Idris, noted that the ongoing onslaught against bandits and other terrorist groups by the Military in the North West Region has been recording a very unprecedented positive result.

The party particularly lauded the coordinating and general leadership efforts of the Minister for Defence (State) Dr Bello Matawalle, in the successes recorded in renewed battle against banditry.

The statement noted with delight that some banditry kingpins who had before now, perceived themselves as invincible or untouchable have started to capitulate

The APC ,however, regretted that Governor Lawal has been trying to undermine this modest gains recorded against banditry and insurgency by his resort to sponsoring Media attacks on the Minister of Defence.

“As a Party, we have observed with dismay how the Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, is trying to sabotage the ongoing onslaught through his 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 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.

“This is why we are calling on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in Zamfara to thwart his mischievous plans,” the APC stated

The party is of the conviction, that the only way the ongoing onslaught against banditry and terrorist activities in the State can be sustained and won is to shove aside Governor Lawal to ensure that he does not continue to interfere with the operations.

“The state of emergency is highly desirable so that the operation can proceed unhindered and the security operatives can enter the state without interference from the Governor ,who has already begun politicizing the manhunt ,by falsely portraying himself as the sole sponsor of the operation”, APC noted.