(OUR STAND)
As media organization with special interest on corporate social stability we were worried about the concern generated by the recent declaration of the “DOCTRINE OF SELF DEFENSE” as enforced by the Governor of Zamfara state few weeks back.
The argument as to the corporate constitutional jurisdiction of the Governor to order for such an order to us is no longer applicable with the recent security threat that become a source of concern to all the citizens of Zamfara State.
The interview by Mr Femi Falana recently on TVC channel has helped resolved the entire circumstances that characterized the concern because by now every citizen of Nigeria cannot argue against the fact that, ZAMFARA IS HEADING TOWARD BECOMING A FAIL STATE.
With all sense of sincerity, the security situation in Zamfara is supposed to be a source of concern of all citizens regardless of the status being a politician, academic, business person, elite and poor.
People may see our action of supporting the decision of the state government as too broader but in all honesty, the last option for any serious minded person in Zamfara is to support the government in securing the state because nothing can be done under an atmosphere of chaos and rancour.
In the opening remarks of the Managing Editor and Team Lead of Thunder Blowers Dr. Anas Sani Anka, the merger between his media outlet and coalition of the Civil Society Organizations was borne out of the concerns the two umbrella have over the lingering security crises faced by the state.
He informed the Governor that the decision to support this “Doctrine of self-defense” as enforced by the him is to see if the doctrine can help bring relative peace and stability in the state.
“We have made it point black that, our mission as media outlet in collaboration with the coalition of the civil society organizations that visited the Governor in Maradun was purely a-political, it was rather a mission to support the return of sustainable peace in the state.
The leader of the coalition Adamu Abubakar Kwatarkwashi emphasized that, the civil society organizations have lost confidence in the effort being made so far by the security agencies hence the carnage is increasing beyond the human comprehension.
He acknowledged the investment made by the Governor in the provision of operational vehicles to the security agencies, logistics, and funding for operational allowances, noting that despite that, the development is becoming more alarming by the day.
The coalition and the team lead of the Thunder Blowers committed the Governor on two major things one, to ensure that the letter which was co-signed by the heads of the twelve selected CSOs is handed over to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces and second, for the Governor to approve the publication of the letter in at least five national dailies.
The Governor in a response has demonstrated his deep concern that he has adopted all options to end the lingering insecurity, but the efforts have failed due to the simple facts that, he has no control over the operation of the security operatives working in Zamfara.
He has also lamented that, the security forces are too reluctant in taking the war to the bandit enclaves since the identity of the bandits is known and their enclaves are identified for long.
“I have the fear that some security actors at the federal level do not want this conflict to end soon may be for reason of the benefits they earning out of it” the Governor lament.
He expressed concern that the government at the center is not too willing to welcome beautiful ideas from the Governors noting that, several ideas he has initiated on security were picked and adopted by other Governors and they have yielded result.
He expressed hope that the marriage created by the adoption of the new doctrine between the state government, media outlets and Civil Society Organizations is going to help in chatting a new course of ensuring sustainable peace and security in the state.
He politely committed himself that he is going to personally deliver the letter to the President and also approved the publication of same letter in at least five national daily papers.
What is left in our candid views is for all stakeholders including the citizens to play a neutral game of building a coalition to support the government to secure Zamfara state.
One surprising thing while we were inside Maradun undergoing the engagement with Governor we have heard the news that the bandits were undergoing operation at Danbaza the main junction leading to Maradun town.
The same night they attacked and killed (14) persons at Dangulbi village in Maru local government while (5) more were slaughtered on eve of the Id-El Kabir at Kango village.
This is to show how terrible the situation looks like.
