Patriots for Advancement of Peace and Social Development has urged Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal to abandon politics of resentment and concentrate on delivering on his pledge to the people to reap the benefits of democracy.
The group also demands that the governor give the state’s citizens a look at his one-year report card.
Recall that on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, elected public officials across celebrated their one-year anniversary of taking office. While some of them, especially the president and governors, honoured their first year by showing their accomplishments, the group bemoaned the fact that Lawal was not among them.
The group said that rather than attacking prior presidents and engaging in politics of resentment, division, and animosity, Lawal would be better served by concentrating on the actual and urgent problems facing the state, such as insecurity.
In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, it was stated that “Governor Lawal has wasted one year blaming others for his inability to discharge his constitutional duties and provide dividends of democracy to the people of Zamfara State, as he promised them, particularly that he would end insecurity in the state within 100 days in office.”
A year later, he bemoans the fact that robbers have taken over the state, feels helpless, and holds the state’s security services accountable for his failure. As the blame game persists, Zamfara State’s citizens endure immense suffering.
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“The election is concluded. It’s governance time. In the same way that he successfully carried out his duties as governor, Governor Lawal need to accept his government, enhance the lives of the populace, and permit the Minister of State for Defence to fulfil his national responsibility.
The group enumerated recent bandit attacks’ locations: Bilbis, Tsafe, Sakajiki, Dogon Kade, Faru, Wari, Gidan Goga, Kanwa, Gora Namaye, Ruwan Dawa, Yarkatsina, Karakkai, Ruwan Dorowa, Damaga, Kanoma, Gora, Sabon Birnin Danali, Ruwan Bore, Malele, Mutunji, Kasuwar Daji, Kuryar Madaro, Mada, Kuncin Kalgo, Danisa, Kwaren Ganuwa, Keta Gwaram Dangulbi, Nahuce, Dambo, Damri, Bakura, Ruwan Jema, Gamji, Gwashi, Kyaram, Zugu, Barayar Zaki, Bagega, Wuya, Sabon Birnin, Anka, Magarya, Dauran, Kanwa, Keta, Magazu, Wanzammai, Gusau, etc.
It further stated, “Governor Lawal did not visit to express sympathy to the people of these areas or send a delegation on his behalf.”
The group bemoaned the fact that “the governor was out of the country and did not instruct any officials to receive the delegation on his behalf, nor did he reciprocate the visit when he returned to date” when President Bola Tinubu sent a government delegation led by Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, to Zamfara in response to the bandits’ kidnapping of Federal University of Gusau students.
“The election is concluded. Blackmail, malice, and deceit are not necessary. Lawal ought to mature and behave like a governor rather than a political party nominee for governor.
“The fight against cattle rustling, kidnapping for ransom, and banditry is complicated and requires teamwork to defeat. To develop a long-term solution to banditry and related crimes in the state for the past 12 years, collaboration and coordination between all security agencies and important stakeholders in the state are required.
