June 01, (THEWILL) – A group, Zamfara Progressive Movement for Peace and Development (ZAPPDE), has scored the government of Dauda Lawal low in the areas of security and human capital development in the state.
The group, which lamented the escalating insecurity in the state, described it as worrisome and hopeless, urging quick remedy to rescue the state.
It said the people of the state are still suffering from insecurity, hunger, and depression despite having democratically elected leaders at the federal and state levels.
Chairman of ZAPPDE, Alhaji Adamu Danyaula Matusgi, in a statement, said the recent acclaimed achievements in the fight against banditry, as captured in the state government’s one-year report card, exist but only on paper as residents live in fear and uncertainty daily.
According to him, there was deceit and misguided information about the acclaimed executed projects, the majority of which only existed on paper and not in reality.
“Some of these advertised projects about development in the state are mirages because the escalating insecurity is now affecting almost all the 14 local government areas in the state.
“We are worried that, today, in Zamfara, many people whose means of livelihood depend on farming can no longer go to the farm while the few ones who can have to pay bandits during planting and harvesting.
“Already, the level of education in Zamfara is abysmally low. The escalating insecurity has further worsened this situation and we all know that education is key to having a peaceful progressive society.
“Rather than overheating the polity through campaigns of calumny on social media and other platforms to water down the previous efforts to secure the state, the survival of an ordinary man in the state should be the major concern of well-meaning Nigerians, including the state government and all it represents.
“To Zamfarawa, there were no projects or infrastructural development when bandits were having a field day attacking, maiming, kidnapping, and killing our people just because of the ineptitude of the government to do the needful,” he said.
The group further said despite the glaring and available data as well as public views, the Zamfara State Government has continued to ignore them while misleading the people of the state with acclaimed success in the fight against insecurity.
It also noted that the Zamfara State Government has continued to ignore the chances of cooperating with the Federal Government, especially the Ministry of Defence, in the fight against insecurity by playing politics with the issue.
“Despite his experiences and strong indications of his good intention to cooperate with Zamfara State Government in this fight against insecurity, the Minister of State for Defence was ignored, rebuffed and refused to be involved in such good efforts in the fight against insecurity challenges in the state.
“To be specific, bandits are now holding many enclaves around Tsafe, Dansadau, Shinkafi, Bukkuyum, and Zurmi. Their activities are becoming so disturbing around roads linking Talata Mafara to Mayanci to Bungudu while other suspected groups have taken over Tsafe to Magazu to Wanzamai.
“We are of the view that instead of spending time, money, and energy on perceived political enemies, the current administration should work harder by way of bringing present and past leaders together to salvage the situation before it is too late,” it added.
The group, therefore, urged the government of Dauda Lawal to focus on the issues and ways of eradicating these challenges by bringing back security and political cohesion to the state.
About the Author
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.
