Pulse.ng : Zamfara: Forum appeals to NGF, FG to end smear campaign against Matawalle, others

By Sani Idris

A prominent group, Arewa Elders Forum for Development and Peace, has appealed to the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) and Zamfara State elders to wade into fisticuffs between Governor Dauda Lawal and his immediate predecessor, the Minister of State Defense, Bello Mohammed Matawalle in the interest of the good people of the State.

The Deputy National Secretary of the Forum, Dr Aliyu Rumfa, made the plea shortly after the Forum"s emergency meeting on Tuesday in Kaduna.

He said that they believed the NGF and respected elders would put a stop to unnecessary smear campaigns against each other to ensure good governance, peace, and improved general security in Zamfara and Northwest as a region.

Rumfa added that there was no reason for the Northern elders and other voices of reasoning from the region to fold their arms and watch things degenerating right under their nose while millions of the innocent people of Zamfara suffer banditry attacks, kidnapping and other social vices include poverty and hunger daily.

"It is alarming with the continued reports of attacks and kidnappings going on in many villages and urban areas of Zamfara state as a result of poor attention given by the Zamfara state governor who is more interested in sponsoring smear campaigns against his immediate predecessor due to their misunderstanding or political indifferences,"he lamented.

Rumfa also lamented that escalations of insecurity challenges in Zamfara is too alarming which is inadvertently affecting other states bordering it, especially Sokoto, Katsina, Niger, Kaduna, and Kebbi states.

"Whereas, the two leaders are at a loggerhead with one another despite the opportunity for having a Minister of defense from the state.

"People are being killed, innocent women raped and children abducted in almost all the local governments of the state, yet Governor Dauda cannot stand for them, instead, he was allegedly accused of sponsoring campaigns against his fellow brother.

"Let the state secure the lives and property of residents of Zamfara State before embarking on this political fight,"he urged.

The Deputy National Secretary therefore called on the Minister of State Defense, Bello Mohammed Matawalle to use his office to improve the security operation in the state to fight against insecurity.

"It is disheartening to hear a whole governor of the state going into the media speaking negatively and charging his predecessor on alleged crimes that are not cleared because of political relevance that cannot be guaranteed.

"Even though they are from different political parties, they ought to unite and cooperate to build a formidable force that can successfully fight insecurity and bring political cohesion and progress to the state.

"We challenge other elders in the North especially those in the Northwest to stand up and bring an end to this unnecessary fight where outsiders are being sponsored or involved in rallies, and protests against an individual to achieve public sympathy," he said.

He also called on the Sultan of Sokoto, and other traditional and religious leaders from the region to intervene and bring an end to the needless campaign of calumny which is destroying the senses of responsibility and political unity.(NAN)