Zamfara government and APC clash over state of emergency call

The Zamfara State Government has slammed the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) over its call on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency to enable the war against banditry to succeed.

In a statement issued on Saturday by APC spokesman Yusuf Idris, the party accused Governor Dauda Lawal of sabotaging the Federal Government’s efforts to combat banditry in the state through a media campaign.

“The ongoing offensive against bandits/terrorists in Zamfara State by the military in the north-west state under the coordination/supervision of the Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Mohammed Matawalle on the instructions and directives of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has of course yielded unprecedented and unexpected results,” the APC said.

“The bandit leaders and their gangs who previously felt powerful while besieging the area have been subdued by the current development. The Federal Government’s fight against banditry is impressive and needs to be sustained at all costs to rid the area of ​​all forms of crime.

“However, as a party, we are watching with dismay how the Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, is trying to sabotage the ongoing attacks through his media campaign to divert attention from the efforts of the Federal Government under the coordination of the Minister of State for Defence to succeed. That is why we are calling on the federal government to declare a state of emergency in Zamfara to foil such nefarious plans.”

READ ALSO: Muslim Cleric Accuses Matawalle of Sponsoring Bandit Leader Haroo Again

The party noted that President Bola Tinubu’s directive to Matawalle to lead the Defence Headquarters alongside the Chief of Defence Staff to root out bandits operating had paid off, but expressed disappointment that Lawal had done little on security since he took over as governor of the state in May last year.

However, while reacting to the allegation, the Director-General of Media and Communications at the Government House, Gusau, Alhaji Nuhu Anka, described the APC’s call to declare a state of emergency in Zamfara state as not only shameless and ridiculous.

In a statement on Sunday morning, Anka accused Matawalle of having an affair with a bandit during his tenure as governor.

“Everyone knows that the former governor had relations with bandits during his tenure. He defended them and provided them with vehicles and money that made them stronger and harder for security forces to eradicate,” Anka said.

“We all saw the video clip on social media where a prominent Islamic cleric, Mallam Bello Assada, attacked Bello Mattawalle’s links with bandit leaders. Mallam Assada categorically stated that Mattawalle during his tenure had provided vehicles and logistics to bandit leaders.

“We also know what happened when he (Matawalle) ordered a traditional ruler to confer a traditional title on a notorious bandit leader Ado Aliero. How can a party that made Matawalle governor of the state ask the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in Zamfara State? Who is fooling whom? This is shameful and ridiculous,” he added.

The post Zamfara govt and APC at loggerheads over emergency call first appeared on Latest Nigeria News | Headlines from Ripples Nigeria.