The Patriots for the Advancement of Peace and Social Development said it was alarmed by the unpatriotic call to President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in Zamfara State by some self-centred politicians with a view to creating a political upheaval and destabilize the state just recovering from years of armed bandits siege.
The executive director of the group, Alhaji Dr Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi said yesterday in Abuja that it was outrageous that some failed politicians in the state would sponsor youths and others to clamour for a state of emergency in Zamfara State now that security and peace have been significantly improved paving way for economic activities and massive infrastructural development that eluded the people for over 13 years of unprecedented armed banditry long before Governor Dauda Lawal assumed office in 2023.
He commended President Tinubu and the military for sustained onslaughts against armed bandits and other criminal elements in Zamfara State in particular and North West geopolitical zone in general, saying this is in tandem with the provision of Section 14(2)b of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which states that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.
He said those who call for a state of emergency in an atmosphere of peace, unity, stability, security, and striving economic activities in Zamfara State are enemies of the people on whom sovereignty resides, adding that they should not only be ignored but also questioned by security agents to unravel their agenda and sponsors.
More importantly, he said a state of emergency where a governor is suspended or removed along with his deputy and state legislators is illegal, unconstitutional, and undemocratic as the Supreme Court had already ruled.
He said there is no place for a sole administrator of a state in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, which is the nation‘s grundnorm.
“Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, provides the process for the removal of a governor or deputy governor from office, while Section 305 of the Constitution states the procedure for declaration of state of emergency. Zamfara State does not fall in any of these clear provisions of the nation‘s Constitution in removing the governor or declaring a state of emergency there.
“No right thinking citizen will take these political hirelings seriously as they are agents provocateurs doing the bidding of their sponsors. Otherwise, President Tinubu will declare a state of emergency in the 36 States and Abuja as there are terrorists, insurgents, militants, bandits, secessionists, kidnappers, armed robbers and other criminal elements across the country. As a democrat who swore to uphold the Constitution, Mr. President will not contemplate inappropriate declaration of a state of emergency,” he said.
He noted that Governor Dauda Lawal provides strong, progressive, visionary, and purposeful leadership working in synergy with President Tinubu and military authorities to crush armed banditry in Zamfara State, which has restored public safety and order in many parts of the state. He described it as democracy at its finest, saying Zamfara citizens have suffered enough due to protracted armed bandits attacks, kidnapping for ransom, cattle rustling, and displacement from ancestral homes.
“It is time to rebuild the state, boost economic activities, and provide fruits of democracy that will assuage the people‘s sufferings. It is time for patriotism. We urge politicians in the state to eschew politics of bitterness and contribute to transforming Zamfara State. Governor Lawal is not the issue, he should be allowed to do the job he was elected devoid of undue distraction,” he said.
