Group Berates Zamfara And Katsina Governors  For Shunning Meetings With  Security Chiefs, As APC Seeks Divine Intervention

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Zamfara State All Progressive Congress, APC, has urged all Muslim Ummah to use the  ongoing Ramadan Fasting period to seek the face of God and His intervention in the security challenges being faced by the state.

This is even as the Zamfara Safeguard Coalition SZC has lampooned the State Governor, Dauda Lawal, and his Katsina State Counterpart, Dikko Umar Radda, for shunning a Security Council Meeting called by major stakeholders to deliberate on the most effective ways to get the states out of the wood.

The Zamfara State APC Chairman, Tukur Umar Danfulani, in a statement on Sunday, March 17 2024, by the party’s Spokesperson Yusuf Idris Gusau, called on the people to  seize the opportunity offered by the holy month to also commit and strengthen their faith in God through engagement in  fervent prayers and reading of the Holy Quran,while adhering strictly to the teachings and Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad .

” During this Ramadan ,let us offer Special prayers for Allah’s intervention in alleviating the prevailing hardships ,as Ramadan is a month of Allah’s blessing.” the statement noted.

The President General of ZSC ,in a statement on Saturday March 16  expressed deep shock and disappointment over the absence of the Governors whose states are seen as the epicenter of banditry, kidnappings  and other criminal activities in the North ,from a meeting initiated by the Chairman of Northern Governors Forum and Security Chiefs .

According to Tukur, the Security Parley was organized to find pragmatic solutions to the spate of insecurity currently ravaging Zamfara,Katsina and most. other states of the Northern region.

“The SZC which is dedicated to promoting peace and security in Zamfara and the surrounding states ,hereby condemn the actions of Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara state and Governor Umar Radda of Katsina for failing to participate in the discussion that could have potentially yielded solutions to the dire security situations at hand.

“These two Governors whose States have borne the brunt of the violence and blood shed ,had a responsibility to engage in dialogue and cooperation in order to safeguard the lives and property of the citizens .

“The SZC notes that the Governors’ stubborn reliance on civilian forces – Yan Sa Kai to combat the security challenges has only exacerbated the crisis .

“The unregulated and often indiscriminate operations of the Yan Sa Kai operatives have led to further violence and chaos ,contributing to the deterioration of the security environment  in the North West region “the SZC stated.

“The SZC ,while warning against the politicization of the on going security challenges in the North by political actors, maintained that the security and well being of the people should take precedence over all other considerations .

“The failure of Governor Lawal and Governor Radda to engage in the dialogue with the security Chiefs reflects a troubling lack of commitment and leadership on their part.

“It is disheartening to see the Governors of the worst hit states turning a blind eye to opportunities for meaningful deliberations and cooperation ,especially when the lives and property of their citizens are at stake .

“The SZC condemnation of the irresponsible actions of the Zamfara and Katsina Governors underscores the urgent need for strong and principled leadership in addressing the security challenges facing  Northern Nigeria”