By Akinwale Kasali
Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle says the North has no respect for leaders. He attributed this disrespect for leaders as the reason why the region is facing security challenges.
The Governor’s assertion comes as a surprise to many who thoght it was the opposite. Until his disclosure, many thought it was the South-east, especially, being republicans, which could be guilty of disrespect for their leaders.
But the Governor disagrees.
He said that the North would continue to have the problem of insecurity due to lack of respect for leaders, especially traditional rulers, lamenting that the youths were the perpetrators of the crimes in the North.
Matawalle made this disclosure while receiving people of Anka, Bungudu, Bukkuyum and Maru Local Government areas led by their Emirs and Local Government Chairmen, who paid him Sallah homage at the Government House, Gusau, the state capital.
“Most of the security challenges in the North could be traced to lack of respect for traditional rulers and recognised regional leaders who could always be called upon to advise on social and political leadership.
“No society can make any meaningful impact and enjoy perfect peace when there is no harmonious relationship between the youths and their leaders. That is why I directed that this year, I will not receive any community at the Government House except they are led by its traditional ruler, ” he said.
The Governor urged people at the corridors of power to always accord Traditional rulers and institution respect as they are the catalyst for societal integration.
“We must start according respect and dignity to our rulers like it was before, because Allah gave them the position which we have to recognise,” he said.
“Henceforth, we shall be the ones going down to the Emirs’ Palaces for Sallah homage to spend a day or two with them and their people at the grassroots,” he said.
He insisted that unrepentant bandits and informants would not go unpunished, appealing to the people to renew commitment to the fight against notorious bandits and kidnappers, pointing out that security is the responsibility of everybody, and not only the responsibility of the government or security agencies.
“Every body must put hands on deck to look inwards and flush out the notorious elements among us. Most of the crimes committed by the bandits at the grassroots indicate a connivance with informants within the community”.
