POLITICS
State of Emergency: APC, PDP Trade Blame in Zamfara
The Zamfara chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the call for the declaration of a state of emergency in the state by the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
This was contained in a statement issued in Gusau on Sunday by the State PDP Publicity Secretary, Haliru Andi.
Andi said that the call for a state of emergency in the state was ‘deeply disrespectful to the entire people of Zamfara.
’He said that the call for a state of emergency was unfounded and deeply disrespectful to the resilient people of Zamfara.
He further said that the successes of Lawal’s administration against banditry have been seen clearly resulting in a direct impact.
“Therefore, Gov. Lawal’s steadfast approaches, refusing to engage in reconciliation with criminals have yielded positive impacts.
“The PDP administration in the state led by Lawal has taken significant steps.
”They included the establishment of Community Protection Guards (CPG) and the creation of a Security Trust Fund to support conventional security forces.
“Gov. Lawal recently distributed vehicles to enhance the operational capabilities of our security agencies, demonstrating his unwavering dedication to this critical issue,” he said.
Andi further said that the APC’s allegations were nothing more than desperate propaganda.
”At no point did former Gov Matawalle express a willingness to collaborate with Governor Lawal in addressing insecurity.
“We urge the APC to focus on genuine issues affecting Zamfara rather than resorting to baseless accusations and distractions,” he added.
“Gov Dauda Lawal remains resolute in his commitment to transforming the state and will not be deterred by the opposition’s unfounded claims.
“The people of Zamfara deserve better, and this administration is dedicated to delivering on that promise,” Andi added.
Recall that the state chapter of APC had on Saturday called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in the state considering the lingering security challenges facing it.
The call was contained in a statement issued in Gusau on Saturday by the State APC Publicity Secretary, Yusuf Idris.
Idris said: “We are appealing to President Bola Tinubu to enforce a state of emergency in the state over insecurity.
“People of Zamfara have lost confidence in the ability of the administration of Gov. Dauda Lawal to deal with the security situation in the state.
“The Zamfara APC chapter commended the ongoing onslaught on bandits and terrorists in the state by the military in the North-Western states under the coordination and supervision of the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle.”
According to Idris, the ongoing military operations in the North-West as directed by Tinubu are certainly yielding unpredictable unprecedented results.
He added, “Bandits’ leaders and their gangs have been subdued by the current development of the Federal Government’s fight against banditry.
“This is very impressive and needs to be sustained at all costs so that the region will be free from all forms of criminality.
“As a party, we observe with dismay how the Zamfara Government is trying to sabotage the ongoing onslaught through his media campaigns.
”This is to distract the effort of the federal government under the coordination of the Minister of State for Defence.
“We have observed that Lawal as the Governor of the state has never in any way supported the military operations in the state in terms of logistics.”
Idris recalled that the military had recently warned him to steer clear from their activities and efforts.
The publicity scribe said that calling on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on Zamfara was necessary so as to spoil the ‘mischievous plan’.
Idris said, “This need is highly desirable so that the operation can go unhindered and the security operatives can go into the state without the governor and government of Zamfara politicizing the manhunt.
According to him, he did so even before the situation escalated to when the acts of banditry, kidnappings for ransom and other heinous crimes became a daily affair, decrying, ” but the governor failed to comply.
”The president, concerned by the general outcry, directed Matawalle to lead the Defence Headquarters with the CDS to embark on full operation in fight against insecurity in the North-West.
“The Minister and his fighters had effectively carried out the onerous task, decimating the criminals, their leaders and camps.
”They have been receiving accolades from all over the world except from Gov. Dauda Lawal and his team who are not happy with the onslaught being handled by Matawalle.
“The governor is now, as usual, turned to politicising and indirectly fighting Matawalle.”
This, Idris claimed, was by revisiting his earlier accusations that Matawalle had embezzled Zamfara’s money.
According to him, Lawal has been claiming that Matawalle left nothing for his administration.
Idris added, ”As well as buying airtime at some media outlets to claim being the one coordinating the fight alongside the military without any recognition of the minister.
“In his TV interviews, Gov. Lawal sarcastically asked, “who’s Matawalle, i am dealing with the Minister of Defence, Badaru, National Security Adviser and the President and I don’t need Matawalle.
“When in reality, it’s Matawalle who was charged with the responsibility which saw the elimination of the most dangerous bandit, Haliru Sububu giving confidence to Nigerians that the others too will soon follow by meeting their Waterloo.
“We are not surprised because a governor who can grant approval of over N1.3 billion as alleged, to sponsor terrorism, denied the act.
”But he immediately redeployed all the Directors of the state Ministry of Finance, whom he believed were the ones who leaked the memo and still denied despite the redeployment letter in circulation, cannot be given public trust.”
Idris alleged that it was the same Lawal who budgeted over N19 billion for his wife’s kitchen, but kept recalling allegations against his predecessor, Matawalle.
He added, ”When he cannot give account of the billions released to the state by the Federal Government in cash and grains as palliatives.
”These were distributed by the Governors of other states to their citizens but have remained a mirage in Zamfara..
Idris added that the efforts of Matawalle in the fight against banditry when he was Governor in Zamfara were far ahead those of Lawal.
According to Idris, all the Emirs, Islamic scholars and all major critical stakeholders in the state contributed immensely in all the meetings and strategies on how to end banditry.
Also, they were highly accommodated for better results that were achieved at the end.
By Eze Okechukwu, Abuja
The Northern Senators Forum; an umbrella body comprising the entire senators from the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory yesterday denied orchestrating a plan to impeach the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio together with other principal officers of the Senate.
The Chairman of the Forum, Senator AbdullAziz Yar Adua who dismissed the reports as fake advised Nigerians to focus on issues bothering on national development and not baseless and unfounded reports,such as was yesterday reported by an online platform.
Senator Yar Adua (APC, Katsina Central) while reacting to the reports by northern Senators to impeach at the Senate Press Center, Abuja in company of Senator Yemi Adaramodu (APC, Ekiti South) said the Senate,under the leadership of Godswill Akpabio was conducting it’s proceedings without rancour and division, blaming the reports of Akpabio’s impeachment plot on mischief makers that means no good for the country.
“There’s no such plot,plan or an idea to impeach or topple the leadership of the Senate by anyone or group, especially the Northern Senators Forum who I’m their Chairman. Such reports should not only be discarded as baseless and unfounded but should be seen as the handiwork of mischief makers,who want to bring the name of Northern Senators Forum to disrepute.
“We are solidly behind the leadership of Godswill Akpabio,the Senate President. We have not had any rancour or division within our fold as Senators,so why should anyone think and align us with such information?”, the retired Army Colonel queried.
Speaking in the same vein, the Senate Committee Chairman on Media Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu expressed his displeasure with the online report, which surfaced in the early hours of yesterday claiming that the Northern Senators were aggrieved with the policies of the Federal Government, prompting the senators to move against the impeachment of Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and other principal officers.
For Senator Adaramodu, ” I came to the Press Center with the Chairman of Northern Senators Forum, my respected colleague, Senator AbdullAziz Yar Adua to tell Nigerians that the report were ill conceived and of no value, considering the fact that all the entire senators are solidly behind the Senate leadership.”
He however advised Nigerians to pray for the government at all levels, saying that its success is not limited to those in power but the entirety of Nigerians.
On the hardship Nigerians are passing through following the federal government petroleum and tax reforms, the Ekiti lawmaker said, ” we, as the people’s representatives, are not unaware and oblivious of the sufferings orchestrated by the recent tax and petroleum reforms. We feel it as well because we are also part of the society. If you recall, the Senate summoned the Chief Tax Officer (the FIRS BOSS) Tuesday to explain the situation to us. We are also engaging the NNPC, together with our colleagues at the House of Representatives. So, very soon we will be through with them. And afterwards, we shall make our position as the legislative arm of government known to Nigerians.
However, a national assembly publication, Order Paper had reported earlier yesterday that security was beefed up yesterday at the National Assembly to avert the possibility of a forceful change of the Senate leadership; attributing the plot to northern senators that were aggrieved by Federal Government policies.
From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
The All Progressive Congress (APC) Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial district, Sen. Sunday Stephen Karimi, has disbursed over N24 million to support LG electioneering campaign activities across all the seven local government areas in his constituency.The seven local government areas include: Kabba/Bunu, Ijumu, Yagba East, Yagba West, Mopamuro, Kontokarfi/Kogi and Lokoja.
According to a statement by the Senator Karimi media team (DSSK), the fund is meant to support all the Chairmanship Candidates and their Vice, as well as all the Councilorship candidates in over 70 wards across the seven LGAs of Kogi west, towards the October 19th LG elections in Kogi State. It said N1 million was disbursed to each of the seven Chairmanship candidates, N500,000 to each of the Vice chairmanship candidates, and N200,000 to each of the over 70 councilorship candidates across the 7 LGAs in Kogi west senatorial district.The DSSK media team described Sen. Karimi as true people-centric Lawmaker who is committed to championing good governance and improving the well-being of his constituents especially at the grassroots.The DSSK Media team said: “Distinguished Senator Sunday Karimi’s generous contributions to the 7 Local Governments in Kogi west are highly commendable, especially in preparation for the forthcoming Local Government elections on October 19th.”These donations demonstrate Senator Karimi’s commitment to empowering local leaders and enhancing community development in Kogi West.”As a lawmaker representing Kogi West, senator Karimi has promised good representation, good roads, good medical facilities, empowerment, and many other dividends of democracy ¹.”His leadership and philanthropy have made a significant impact in the communities, and it is very clear that he is dedicated to serving humanity.”May Almighty God continue to guide and guard Senator Karimi’s path as he serves the people of Kogi West”.It would be recalled that Sen. Karimi handed over a newly built and well equipped military base to the Nigerian Army in Egbe, Yagba West LGA, to address rising kidnapping and banditry, and improve security in Kogi and some areas in Kwara State.The military forward operating base (FOB) was commissioned on Saturday in Egbe, by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja.
By Mike Odiakose, Abuja
The leadership crisis rocking the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been resolved by the party’s Governors Forum and the Board of Trustees (BoT).This development was announced by the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum and Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, on Tuesday in Abuja.
Mohammed, who fielded questions from Journalists at the Private Wing of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on his way to Ondo State for PDP governorship campaign, added that all members of the NWC have been directed to revert to the status quo before the crisis erupted last Friday. According to the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, “The crisis is over. The governors, Board of Trustees, and other organs have resolved that the NWC should revert to the status quo. They are now united.”The governor, accompanied by the acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, while travelling to Ondo State for a PDP gubernatorial campaign rally, announced that suspensions from both factions had been lifted.Also speaking, Damagum confirmed that the crisis is over, adding, “The party is united, and no members of the NWC left before.”The mutual suspicion among PDP NWC members over alleged anti-party activities of the Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum and the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwun boiled over last Thursday when some member almost engage in physical fight during the NWC meeting.Few hours later the National Publicity Secretary, Hon Debo Ologunagba announced the suspension of Damagum and his replacement with Yayari Ahmed Mohammed as the new Acting National Chairman.Damagum reacted by directing the National Publicity Secretary and the National Legal Advisor to “step aside” and to face a disciplinary panel.Daily Asset gathered on Tuesday that final decision in the leadership logjam in the party will be laid to rest when the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meet on October 24.The camp of the Acting National Chairman is believed within the PDP circle of working to ensure the meeting did not hold over possibility of NEC appointing a substantive National Chairman from the North Central.The PDP BoT at its meeting last Thursday advised the NWC to ensure the October 24 NEC meeting is held as earlier agreed by various organs and leaders of the party.
NOA Intensifies Sensitisation Campaign on National Identity Project
ShareFrom Joseph Amedu, Lokoja The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has embarked on a nationwide sensitisation campaign to enlighten Nigerians on...
UNILORIN Ranks Most Preferred Varsity in Nigeria, Produces 256 1st Class
ShareFrom Samuel James, Ilorin The University of Ilorinin still maintains its position for five years as the most preferred University...
Environment Ministry Rejects NUPRC’s Approval to Aiteo for Barging Operations
ShareBy Ubong Ukpong, Abuja The Federal Ministry of Environment has disagreed with the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) over...
Police IGP Bow to Pressure, Order SWAT Team out of Occupied Hotel in Nembe
ShareFrom Mike Tayese, Yenagoa The Inspector -General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun has bowed to pressure over the quit notice...
FCTA Demolishes Structures in Lugbe, FCC Phase 5
ShareBy Laide Akinboade, Abuja The Department of Development Control of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), on Thursday, reiterated commitment...
AI Powerful Tool in Fight against Cyber Threats, Says
ShareBy Tony Obiechina, Abuja The Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Dr. Emomotimi Agama has said that the...
Judiciary Threat to Drmocracy, Jonathan, Fubara Cry out
ShareBy David Torough, Abuja Former President Goodluck Jonathan has taken a swipe at the nation’s judiciary, accusing that arm of...
Niger Govt. Establish Price Control and Monitoring Board
Share Niger Government has established the state Price Control and Monitoring Board, approved by Gov. Umaru Bago to ensure fair...
FAAC: FG, States, LGs Share N1.298trn for September
ShareThe Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC), has shared N1.298 trillion among the Federal Government, states, and the Local Government Councils...
Accident Claims 1, LASTMA Decries Non-compliance with Regulations
Share The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has reiterated the importance of strict adherence to traffic laws, emphasising the...