State Of Emergency: APC, PDP Trade Blame In Zamfara

The Zamfara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the call for declaration of a state of emergency in the state by the All Progressives Congress (APC), deepening the debate over the state of insecurity in the state.

Recall that APC in the state on Saturday called on the federal government to declare a state of emergency in the state considering the lingering security challenges facing it.

But according to a statement by the PDP publicity secretary in the state, Haliru Andi, PDP said the call for a state of emergency in the state was ‘deeply disrespectful to the entire people of Zamfara.’

Andi said, ‘”The call by the factional APC led by former Gov. Bello Matawalle and Sen. Abdulaziz Yari, for a state of emergency is a clear indication of their intimidation by the developmental strides made under Gov. Dauda Lawal’s leadership.

“The PDP’s administration is focused on rectifying the maladministration that characterised the 25 years of APC governance, and it is evident that the APC fears the scorecard of Lawal.

“The APC’s attempt to undermine Gov. Dauda Lawal’s efforts reflect a desperate need to salvage their political careers as the 2027 elections approach,” Andi said.

Stressing that the call for a state of emergency was unfounded and disrespectful to the Zamfara people, he said the allegation that Gov. Dauda Lawal is sabotaging the fight against banditry in Zamfara is a political move to undermine the ongoing efforts to address insecurity in the state.

“Gov Lawal is the first in our state’s history to prioritise security with genuine commitment, contrasting sharply with the previous APC administrations.

“Unlike the APC, which has politicised the serious issue of insecurity, the PDP’s administration is committed to the peace and stability of Zamfara,” Andi explained.

Earlier, APC, in a statement by its publicity secretary in the state, Yusuf Idris, said: “We are appealing to President Bola Tinubu to enforce a state of emergency in the state over insecurity.

“People of Zamfara have lost the confidence in the ability of the administration of Gov. Dauda Lawal to deal with the security situation in the state.

“The Zamfara APC chapter commended the ongoing onslaught on bandits and terrorists in the state by the military in the North-Western states under the coordination and supervision of the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle.”

According to Idris, the ongoing military operations in the North-West as directed by Tinubu are certainly yielding unpredictable unprecedented results.

He added, “Bandits’ leaders and their gangs have been subdued by the current development of the Federal Government’s fight against banditry.

“This is very impressive and needs to be sustained at all costs so that the region will be free from all forms of criminality.

“As a party, we observe with dismay how the Zamfara Government is trying to sabotage the ongoing onslaught through his media campaigns.

”This is to distract the effort of the federal government under the coordination of the Minister of State for Defence.

“We have observed that Lawal as the Governor of the state has never in anyway supported the military operations in the state in terms of logistics.”

Idris recalled that the military had recently warned him to steer clear from their activities and efforts.

”Gov. Dauda is now bent on distracting the operation through media campaigns and propaganda.

”This is just as he is toying with the security of lives and properties of innocent Zamfara citizens for his political gains,” he opined.

The publicity scribe said that calling on the federal government to declare a state of emergency on Zamfara was necessary so as to spoil the ‘mischievous plan’.

Idris said, “This need is highly desirable so that the operation can go unhindered and the security operatives can go into the state without the governor and government of Zamfara politicizing the manhunt.

”This is as the state Governor, Dauda Lawal, has already begun by portraying himself as if he’s the sole sponsor of the operation, for which he has no hand.

“Since he took over the mantle of leadership in the state as governor in May last year, Lawal has vehemently nurtured attacks on his predecessor, Matawalle.

”This included direct affront on the Minister’s property and baseless accusations, which always fell on deaf ears.

“On many opportunities, Matawalle had offered himself both as Minister of State for Defence and as a citizen of Zamfara to partner with the governor in fighting the bandits.”

(NAN)