Zamfara 2027: NDC Defends Marafa’s Resignation Remark, Says Statement Was Accountability, Not Weakness

The Zamfara State chapter of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has defended its governorship aspirant, Senator Kabir Garba Marafa, over his recent comment that he would resign if he fails to tackle insecurity as governor.

The party said the state government deliberately distorted Marafa’s statement during a DCL Hausa interview to gain political advantage.

In a rejoinder on Monday in Gusau, the State Publicity Secretary of the NDC, Abdulkasim Almustapha Kayatawa, said the article by Suleman Ahmad Tudu, who claims to be Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Secretary to the Zamfara State Government, was misleading and poorly researched.

Kayatawa said that Marafa understands the responsibilities of both the state and federal governments in tackling insecurity.

According to him, Marafa said that as governor, he would discharge his own responsibility as the state government for all to see and push the federal government to discharge its own responsibility.

“He said it is only if there is no result after he has done his own part and pushed the federal government to do its own that he would resign. That is the language of a leader with integrity. That is the language of a man who does not believe in deceiving the people with empty promises,” Kayatawa said.

The NDC spokesman accused the administration of Governor Dauda Lawal of celebrating propaganda while insecurity persists across the state.

He recalled that during the 2023 campaign, Governor Lawal promised that banditry would be a thing of the past if elected.

“Three years later, insecurity has persisted in many parts of the state. Week after week, innocent citizens are attacked in their villages, farms and on the roads. School activities have been disrupted and communities displaced,” he said.

Kayatawa argued that no achievement can be meaningful without security, saying, “Whatever you achieve without protecting the lives and property of the people is a failure.”

He further alleged that the governor has shown a lack of empathy for victims of attacks.

He cited the recent killing of seven people in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area, alleging that instead of visiting to console families, the governor attended the APC presidential campaign flag-off in Kaduna.

“Up till now, there has been no condolence message or visit. This is the behaviour of a government that has lost touch with the suffering of its people,” he said.

The NDC also accused Governor Lawal of hypocrisy, saying that before joining the APC-led federal government, he consistently blamed the federal government for failing to support Zamfara in the fight against insecurity, but has now gone silent.

“What has Zamfara State achieved by joining the federal government? Has banditry stopped? The benefit is only for Governor Lawal, not for the people,” the statement said.

Kayatawa said Senator Marafa, in contrast, has a proven record of courage and accountability, noting that as senator, Marafa consistently raised Zamfara’s security challenges on the floor of the Senate.

He said Marafa sponsored many indigent students to study both at home and abroad and facilitated federal appointments for people of the state.

“A leader with a proven record is not a gamble; he is a guarantee. Senator Marafa is not coming to learn on the job,” he said.

The NDC concluded that if anyone should resign, it is Governor Lawal for failing in his primary responsibility of securing lives and property.

“The people of Zamfara State want a leader who understands their pain and has the capacity to act. Senator Kabir Marafa is that leader,” Kayatawa added.