The Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has made a strong appeal to the Federal Government, urging them to declare a state of emergency in Zamfara to ensure the ongoing fight against banditry achieves lasting success. In a statement signed by the party’s spokesperson, Yusuf Idris, the APC accused the state governor, Dauda Lawal, of undermining efforts aimed at curbing the banditry that has plagued the state for years.
The APC claims that Governor Lawal’s actions are driven by political motives, as he allegedly wants to sabotage the fight against bandits for fear that it would lend credibility to his predecessor, Dr. Bello Matawalle, now the Minister of State for Defence. According to the APC, Lawal’s reluctance to fully support the military operation against bandits stems from his desire to ensure that Matawalle, his political rival, does not succeed in restoring peace to the region.
The statement emphasized that the ongoing military onslaught against bandits in Zamfara, under the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and spearheaded by the Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Matawalle, has been yielding significant results. “The current military campaign is unlike anything we’ve seen before in terms of its effectiveness,” the statement read. “Bandit leaders, once thought to be invincible, are now being subdued by the relentless efforts of the military, and the positive outcomes are clear to see.”
Despite these successes, the APC is alarmed by what they describe as Governor Lawal’s attempts to derail the operation through a well-coordinated media campaign. The party alleges that the governor is deliberately working to discredit the military’s progress, as he fears it may affect his political ambitions in the lead-up to the 2027 elections. The APC further accuses Lawal of using the insecurity in Zamfara as a tool during his 2023 election campaign and of intending to do the same in the next election cycle.
“The governor has never supported the military’s efforts in terms of logistics or moral backing,” the APC claims. “In fact, there was a time when the military had to warn him to stay away from their operations because his interference was becoming a hindrance. Now, Governor Lawal is trying to exploit the military campaign for his own political gain while undermining the actual efforts being made to restore peace to Zamfara.”
The APC also accuses Governor Lawal of hypocrisy, stating that while he has been vocally critical of the military’s actions, he is now attempting to claim credit for the ongoing operation. “Governor Lawal is trying to present himself as the driving force behind the fight against banditry, despite having no real involvement,” the statement alleges. “His media appearances are nothing more than an attempt to distract from the fact that he has done little to contribute to the security efforts in the state.”
The APC further asserts that since taking office in May of last year, Governor Lawal has not made significant strides in addressing the state’s security challenges. Instead, the party claims, he has focused on attacking his predecessor, both politically and personally, rather than working with him to combat the banditry that has caused so much suffering in Zamfara. “Matawalle, despite being in a position to help as both a former governor and now as the Minister of State for Defence, has repeatedly offered to work with Governor Lawal to tackle the issue of insecurity,” the APC says. “But all he has received in return are baseless accusations and unwarranted hostility.”
The statement goes on to praise President Tinubu for taking decisive action in response to the widespread outcry over the state of insecurity in Zamfara. According to the APC, the President’s directive to Dr. Matawalle to lead a full-scale military operation, in coordination with the Chief of Defence Staff, has been a game-changer in the fight against banditry. The party points to the progress made under Matawalle’s leadership, which has seen bandit leaders and their camps decimated, as proof of the effectiveness of the campaign. “The Minister and his team have achieved what many thought was impossible, and their efforts are being recognized worldwide,” the statement notes. “The only people not applauding these achievements are Governor Lawal and his inner circle, who are more concerned with political maneuvering than with the safety of the people of Zamfara.”
In light of what they view as Governor Lawal’s persistent efforts to politicize the security situation, the APC has called for the Federal Government to take drastic action. “We are urging the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in Zamfara so that the military can continue their operations without interference from the state government,” the party says. “The safety of Zamfara’s citizens should not be compromised for political reasons, and the current military campaign must be allowed to proceed without any distractions or disruptions.”
The party insists that a state of emergency is necessary to ensure that the military’s efforts are not hampered by what it describes as Governor Lawal’s attempts to use the security situation for his own political gain. “This operation is too important to be derailed by political games,” the statement concludes. “Zamfara’s future depends on the success of this military campaign, and we cannot afford to let politics stand in the way of peace and security.”
The APC’s call for a state of emergency highlights the growing tension between the party and the current administration in Zamfara, as the fight against banditry continues to dominate the state’s political landscape. Whether the Federal Government will heed the APC’s call remains to be seen, but it is clear that the security situation in Zamfara remains a deeply contentious issue, with far-reaching implications for the state’s future.
