From Maiharaji Altine
Zamfara state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has berated Governor Dauda Lawal for his inability to fulfill his campaign promises of ending the banditry activities in the state in just one month if elected as the Governor of the state.
In a press statement, the spokesperson of the APC, Alhaji Yusuf Idris said Governor Lawal promised the electorates that he would crush bandits within his first month of office if elected.
“But unfortunately, governor Lawal is putting a reverse gear on his campaign promises”. Said Idris.
Idris described the interview granted to Chanel TV by Governor Lawal where he boasted that if he was given the full control of the security personnel, he would end banditry within one month as laughable.
Idris said, “The Zamfara State All Progressives Congress (APC) watched a very laughable interview of Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal on Channels TV asking for “full control over of all security agencies in his state to end banditry in one month”.
Idris described the comment by Governor Lawal in the TV interview as a deceitful and fabricated lies which he usually do whenever he featured on national television.
“May be he forgot the campaign promises he made when he wanted to be Zamfara State governor in 2023”
“Dauda Lawal and his party, the PDP used the unfortunate escalating insecurity in the state against APC candidate, then governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle who he kept telling the electorate had failed and that if he (Dauda) became governor, he would crush bandits and end banditry within his first one months in office”.
“Almost two years in office now and still counting with every promised month now being turned into a year, the Governor can only chicken his face behind his aides who in turn fight anyone challenging the administration whenever the issue of insecurity in Zamfara is raised’.
“Dauda Lawal who condemned former governor Matawalle’s policies, is now copying the same policies he abused including state owned security guards to assist the military in the fight against banditry”.
Idris lamented that although the effort of Matawalle in fighting the bandits was praised by many citizens as it rekindled hope of eliminating bandits and end their activities, Governor Dauda felt he could do it alone without the Defence Minister.
He said, “In spite of Bello Mohammed Mattawalle’s efforts to fight banditry in collaboration with the state government, his predecessor Dauda Lawal kicked against it, as he saw the move as an effort that could propel Matawalle back as governor”.
“Just two days ago after a lot of water had passed under, the governor in a media interview is asking for “full control over all security agencies in the state,” with which he said he could resolve banditry within a month”.
“This underscores the governor’s ignorance on constitutional provisions especially on who or what “the Commander-In-Chief of the armed forces means”.
Idris explained that At many fora and given any slight opportunity, Governor Lawal has always criticized the President Tinubu’s APC led administration for not doing enough on security even with the landmark successes being recorded especially in the north west.
He lamented that Governor Lawal was not happy with the progress recorded on security in the state simply because it was being coordinated by his political rival, Minister Matawalle.
Idris described Governor Dauda’s call for control over security as misplaced and confusing.
“We appreciate the fact that Governor Lawal is ashamed to identify with the success being achieved in the fight against bandits through Matawalle’s coordination but for the sake of his people, he can push off such pride and join hands with the federal government to fully recover the state from the fangs of the criminals”.
“Giving a dateline is not the issue here but the successful elimination of the criminals and their supporters”. Said Idris
Idris therefore maintained that if Governor Dauda could boast of setting up a state owned special security guards which he initially believed would eliminate armed banditry in the state, he must have realized that he blundered as a tree cannot make a forest.
“If he really wants to succeed in the fight against banditry, he must join strong and sincere partnership with the federal government to bring all the security agencies together, give them the necessary backing support and wait for the results”. Concluded Idris.
