Why Buhari must declare state of emergency in APC controlled Zamfara State, Governor, others speak

By BASHIR ADEFAKA

Another respondent who spoke was of the view that Boko Haram would not have been that dangerously impacting if Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led Federal Government of Goodluck Jonathan had heeded the calls for total declaration of state of emergency in Borno State. “President Muhammadu Buhari now under All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government should ignore those bent on politicising security of any federating unit of Nigeria and just move straight to declare the state of emergency in Zamfara State and send bill for its ratification later to the National Assembly,” he said.

President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, has been told why declaration of a state of emergency in Zamfara State, North West Nigeria is inevitable.

Zamfara is currently governed by ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and must therefore not be problem for the government to put under an emergency, the calls for it has argued.

This is coming as concerned Nigerians, who asked both governments of Federal, states and politicians to choose between their self gains and the lives of the people, continued to mount pressures on the President over the inevitability of a state of emergency to stop the bandits described as partly of political motivation and partly of intruders from warring zones of neighbouring countries but who get access to Nigeria due to porous border system and unpatriotic attitude of some traditional rulers.

Witth a report credited to Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State that he has thrown his weight behind the calls if it will bring peace to his people, President Buhari will have no excuse for not declaring a total emergency on the state any moment from now.

According to The Eagle Online report, Governor Yari, who had been out of the state for a few weeks but has just returned, said this when he addressed newsmen at a press briefing in Gusau last Thursday.

He said: “I am also in support of the declaration of state of emergency if it will save the lives of people of the state.”

He warned politicians against politicising the disturbing security situation in the state.

He said: “We are talking about the lives of our people and this needs the coming together of all, so that the crisis can end.

The Governor, The DEFENDER gathered, has also picked the medical bills and all expenses incurred on soldiers injured in their effort to rid the state of killer bandits that the state and his good people may have peace and security.

This is also as an air strike operation by Nigeria Air Force (NAF) neutralised bandits’ hideout in a Zamfara State community

“If the provisions of my office had allowed me to carry arms against the bandits, l would have done so.

“But if I am not around, there are capable hands that collaborate with the security team in the fight against the bandits.

“The security men are doing their best.

“But it is sad to know that some of the people involved in the kidnappings are close relatives or associates of the victims, which is part of the reasons the problem is persisting.

“We must all come together and expose anyone or group that is part of these hoodlums, and we should also pray for Allah’s intervention.”

Bandits had continued to elude security measures put in place by both the State and Federal governments.

The air strike by NAF leading to killing of several of the bandits from a compound, according to intelligence report, they used for grouping and where they set out to killed and kidnap innocent people is however a major success lately of the Nigerian military against the unfortunate elements.

Some of the respondents who spoke to us on the latest development of NAF killing several with some escaping agreed that a state of emergency is still inevitable.

One of them anonymously said, “Don’t forget that while Nigerian Air Force jet fighter killed several of these agents of darkness, several of them also reportedly ran away. While some of their weapons, high calibre, were recovered, several who escaped must have done do with some of the weapons.

“Do you know where they escaped to? No. And if no, then the declaration of state of emergency is still germane in that state and it must happen in no time,” he said.

Another respondent who spoke was of the view that Boko Haram would not have been that dangerously impacting if Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led Federal Government of Goodluck Jonathan had heeded the calls for total declaration of state of emergency in Borno State.

“President Muhammadu Buhari now under All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government should ignore those bent on politicising security of any federating unit of Nigeria and just move straight to declare the state of emergency in Zamfara State and send bill for its ratification later to the National Assembly,” he said.