By
Anas Sani Anka
________________________
I have a cause to write this piece in order to lend my views in regard to the raising nature of insecurity ravaging the people of Zamfara state.
This piece is triggered by the frequent meetings and visitations by Governor of Zamfara to various heads of security agencies and what I feel about its impact.
The rate at which cases of killings and abductions are raising in the various parts of Zamfara state is humanly alarming, with people day in day out loosing fate in the ability of the government to do what is needed to secure the people.
The strategies of the marauders (bandits) is gradually shifting base from the remote rural areas to the city towns, especially Gusau the capital city of Zamfara.
We could not forget the Bakura scenario, neither that of Anka both of them local headquarters and very recently the scenario in Bungudu and Maru local governments.
You can count as many incidences as possible within Gusau the metropolitan city of the state, including the abduction of the former Provost of FEET Gusau Dr. Hassan Augie and his family members as well as the recent debacle at Training area where residents succeeded in arresting one of the bandits.
The gruesome murder of Barrister Ahmad Yado Kwatarkwashi few kilometers from the state has sent a bad signals that all is not well within the state.
But in all these developments, one may not shift the burden of blame from the state government and government at the center for rising to the occasion.
I know some people may disagree with me for some selfish reasons that I always blamed the state government for the killing despite knowing fully that managing insecurity is a sole responsibility of the federal government.
But the question I used to ask which none of these people who disagreed with me answered excellently is that why did the government promise the people of Zamfara that if he was elected, he will bring an end to the killings and abductions in the state?.
His video footage are viral on various social media platforms and no one, not even his Wailers can deny the fact that Governor Dauda Lawal campaigned on the premise of ending insecurity and restoring peace.
My reasons for raising this substantial background in my piece is gone help remind Zamfara people and indeed Nigerians that the effort being put in place by Governor Dauda Lawal in bringing an end to the menace of insecurity is not enough.
Going to Abuja to pay courtesy visits to service chiefs and heads of security agencies is not the best way to go about ending the Zamfara problem.
The most important thing is for him to sit at home with all the stakeholders and chart the way forward. Abuja’s solutions may not work as per likely as the killings and abductions in Zamfara is concern.
How many time does the Governor meet the CP discuss the raising development and provide support on the ground for people to see and believe that the state government is committed? .
What has changed since, after two or three security meetings held by the current administration? We are not saying anything has changed at all, but is this insignificant compared to the experience and the expectations people have on Dauda Lawal administration? This is two million naira questions and anyone can tell Zamfara people if at all today is better than yesterday in terms of the fight against banditry and the defense should be with facts for all to see.
It is time for Governor Dauda Lawal to learn from his neighborhood brother Dr. Umar Dikkk Radda of Katsina because for me, Radda is the Zulum of our geopolitical zone.
Even an enemy of God must believed that there is a government in Katsina and that the Governor is fully attached to the feeling of his people and takes the most appropriate decisions that impact directly on the lives of the Katsina people.
The setting up of his cabinet is a wonderful thing, and he has so far planned to invest a giant sum of over N7b to fight the bandits.
Radda has also made policy pronouncement on the security approach to be instituted by his government and also set up a committee to develop the best way to end banditry and restore peace in Katsina.
Most importantly and except for some high – level official engagements, he always at home in Katsina running the government in the overall interest of the Katsina people.
In Zamfara these semblances we have lacked as people and for whatever reason, it seems the pilot has missed the runway, and we pray that we shall not crash-land again.
I will call on the Governor to restrict his Abuja engagements and come back home to engage the right stakeholders and face the fight against armed banditry head-on, and anything short of this will be a bad dream for his political carrier.
I repeat again and again that things are falling apart in Zamfara in terms of Insecurity and indeed the governance generally and unless the Governor has opened his two eyes and sees things with wisdom, Zamfara people would one day bend their political anger on him.
The 2019 and 2023 political experience in Zamfara is enough to serve lessons for the Zamfara political class because the common man has proven to have the most important political power that is unchallenged.
We pray that God will give the Governor wisdom to heed to this advice and do the right thing.
