August 02, (THEWILL) – A group, Zamfara Peace Initiatives Forum (ZAPIF) has condemned an attempt to raze the Minister Of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle’s residence in Guzau, Zamfara State, on Thursday.
The group, in a statement by its Secretary, Alhaji Ahmed Bako (Danmadamin Kucheri), alleged that the attempt was initiated by political enemies of President Bola Tinubu, under the guise of the ongoing nationwide protest.
According to the group, it was saddening to see children between 15 to 17 years of age from Lalan, Gada Biyu, Tudun Wada, Birnin Ruwa, Hayin Maigemu and Unguwar Dallatu mobilised by suspected agents of the State Government to make such an attempt on Matawalle’s property.
“President Tinubu’s political allies, including Matawalle, Sen. Abdul’aziz Yari, Sen. Sahabi Yau, and Hon. Rikiji among others, were being targeted and attacked by hired miscreants just to get at him.
“Such open attacks on these highly respected elders by the sponsors of the protest in Gusau, Talata Mafara and Kaura Namoda are doing so to get political sympathy from the people and they must be stopped.
“It is unfortunate that the same state government that failed to account for billions of naira released by the Federal Government through allocations, COVID-19 intervention for sustainable development and fight against poverty, hunger, and insecurity could be blaming President Tinubu’s administration for its failure
“We, therefore, call on well-meaning Zamfara State indigenes to caution Gov. Dauda Lawal to focus on good governance rather than promoting vandalism and intimidation of his perceived political enemies.
“We also call on parents to put their houses in order by way of cautioning their children from being used as an instrument of violence and social unrest in the state while the children of their sponsors are enjoying their lives abroad.
“To the security agents, we acknowledge your efforts at maintaining peace and order in Zamfara and Nigeria as a whole. However, be reminded that it is your constitutional responsibility to protect the lives and property of Nigerians by placing miscreants where they belong,” the group said.
Tunde Omolehin is an award-winning Journalist with prose in investigative and storytelling that is connecting the dots between the under-reported communities and policymakers to ensure good governance and accountability.
