November 08, (THEWILL) – A group, Arewa Elders Forum For Development and Peace, has strongly appealed to the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), and Zamfara State Elders to wade into fisticuffs between Governor Dauda Lawal and his immediate predecessor, Bello Mohammed Matawalle.
Deputy National Secretary of the Forum, Dr Aliyu Usman Rumfa, who made the plea shortly after the Forum’s emergency meeting in Kaduna, said the quick intervention is in the interest of the good people of the state.
It explained 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 innocent people of Zamfara suffer banditry attacks, kidnapping and other social vices including poverty and hunger daily.
The Forum believes the NGF and respected elders far and near should put a stop to the duo’s unnecessary smear campaigns against each other in the interest of good governance, peace, and improved security in the State and Northwest as a region.
“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 differences.
“Escalations of insecurity challenges in the state are too alarming and it is inadvertently affecting other states bordering Zamfara, especially Sokoto, Katsina, Niger, Kaduna, and Kebbi states; whereas the two leaders are at loggerheads with one another.
“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.
“We also call 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 to the media, speaking negatively and charging his predecessor on alleged crimes that are not substantiated because of political deference.
“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 to achieve public sympathy.
“We call on our esteemed and highly respected Sultan of Sokoto, and other traditional and religious leaders from the region to intervene and bring an end to this needless campaign of calumny, which is destroying our sense of responsibility and political unity,” said Dr Rumfa.
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.
