Following the ongoing conflict between Zamfara State governor Lawal Dauda and his predecessor, Bello Matawalle, President Bola Tinubu has enlisted the assistance of former governor of the state, Ahmed Yerima to mediate and resolve the crisis.
Yerima disclosed this to State House correspondents on Monday after meeting with President Tinubu at the presidential villa.
When asked about the tensions between the current and former governor in his home state of Zamfara, Yerima affirmed his commitment to promoting stability.
He stated that President Tinubu had requested his assistance in resolving the issues and he pledged to work towards achieving peace in the state.
“You see, the issue of Zamfara, like you rightly said, I’m now a father in Zamfara. Even Mr. President in my interaction this afternoon has requested me to put my best to ensure that there’s stability in the state and that is what we are doing already.
“And by the grace of God, we will come together and you will see that all the crises that are going on will be over,” he said.
Regarding Yerima’s earlier advocacy for dialogue with bandits, he reiterated that Nigerian authorities possess the capacity to confront these challenges decisively.
However, he emphasised the importance of avoiding collateral damage and drew a parallel with late president Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s successful negotiation with militants in the Niger Delta region.
Yerima suggested that poverty and ignorance were root causes of such conflicts and proposed rehabilitation programmes as a means to integrate the bandits back into society.
He emphasized that negotiations were an integral part of governance and that they should be pursued before resorting to extensive military operations.
Drawing upon historical examples, he highlighted that even global conflicts, such as World War I and World War II, were ultimately resolved through negotiations.
He maintained that poverty and ignorance were prevalent among the bandits and advocated for their education, reintegration into society, and poverty alleviation to address the root causes of their actions.
In response to concerns raised about the plight of victims affected by bandit activities, Yerima clarified that he was proposing a solution for the overall Nigerian crisis, not advocating for the bandits.
He stressed the importance of giving Nigerians the opportunity to repent, be rehabilitated, and reintegrated into society.
He reiterated his confidence in the government’s capacity, with adequate resources and support, to address the security challenges if negotiations failed.
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