Ondo State Govt accused of blackmailing Zamfara residents with story of night club ownership

*As Gusau condemns existence of so-called criminal Zamfara Boys

*Says, ‘Our people are never criminals’ 

By BASHIR ADEFAKA and IBRAHIM KANOMA, Gusau

According to the Zamfara State government, “If at all the unsubstantiated allegations leveled against the good people of Zamfara state residents in Ondo were true, the Ondo state government should have communicated  to Zamfara state government for action, rather  than tribalism which may cause disunity and unnecessary and avoidable consequences within the communities of the hitherto friendly societies.”

The government of Zamfara, home state of Northerners of the state extractions living and doing businesses outside their region, has accused the Ondo State government of blackmailing some Zamfara indigenes resident in the South West state with its story of night club ownership.

In a statement issued on Wednesday 1 December and signed by the state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Ibrahim Magaji Dosara, and copy of which was sent to The DEFENDER, the Zamfara State government asked the Ondo State government to provide proof that the Zamfara indigenes own the night club it claimed in a report published in Punch Newspaper that it shut down.

The statement said, “The Zamfara state govt has expressed serious dismay over a recent publication  by the Punch newspaper, credited to Ondo state govt, alleging the involvement of Zamfara indigenes residents in that state in some unholy activities.

“The Zamfara  state government under the able leadership of His Excellency Hon (Dr Bello Muhammed Matawallen Maradun, Barden Hausa, Shatiman Daular Usmaniya, therefore condemned in strongest terms, this act of injustice and blackmail meted the good and law abiding citizens of our great state resinding in that state who are innocently pursuing their legitimate businesses.

“The state therefore challenges Ondo state government to provide proof, that Zamfara state indigenes are owners of that night club shutdown by the Ondo state government due to drug peddling and commercial sex activities,” it said.

According to the Zamfara State government, “If at all the unsubstantiated allegations leveled against the good people of Zamfara state residents in Ondo were true, the Ondo state government should have communicated  to Zamfara state government for action, rather  than tribalism which may cause disunity and unnecessary and avoidable consequences within the communities of the hitherto friendly societies.

“It is pertinent to note at this juncture that, Zamfara people who are good muslims and shariah compliant, have respect  for the rule of law anywhere they live, as well remain good ambassadors of our great state.

“Again, our people, who are very much industrious, have been in various parts of Nigeria and beyond, without any reported cases of involvement in such immoral decadence. They are in Lagos, Rivers, Anambra, Imo, Oyo, Cross Rivers, just to mentio, but a few of Nigerian states, including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, with no complaints from neither the communities nor the governments of those states,” said the Information Commissioner.

In the meantime, the Zamfara state government has described the allegations by Ondo State government as false and malicious, “as well an apparent attempt to, not only tarnish the image of Zamfara government and its good people in the eyes of both national and international communities, but also turn sour, the existing cordial relationship between the people of the two states.

“Accordingly, the Zamfara government also condemned the existence of the so called Zamfara Boys associated with criminal activities, as our people are never criminals.

“The Ondo state govt would have verified the report before going to press. Zamfara state government therefore advises the Ondo state govt and it’s people to, in the spirit of unity and brotherhood continue to treat Zamfara people living in Ondo to conduct their legal businesses with due respect as other Nigerians. Our government and people also requested the Ondo state government to apologise for this very sad and unacceptable decision,” the statement said.