A former Member of the House of Representatives, Honourable Sani Takori, has urged Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State to stop the blame game on insecurity, stressing the need for collaboration with the federal government to win the war against banditry instead of engaging in blame-shifting.
Takori, in a statement issued on Thursday, expressed concern over the recent media war between Governor Dauda Lawal and the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle.
He noted that instead of both leaders burying their political differences and joining hands to defeat bandits and banditry, they had turned it into a public media fight.
According to him, the appointment of Matawalle as Minister of State for Defence could support the fight against banditry in the state.
“If the two of you support each other, together you will achieve victory over these monsters that have destroyed lives and properties and increased the high level of poverty among our people,” he stressed.
Takori, a former Attorney General of Zamfara State, categorically stated that playing the blame game is a defeatist attitude and should not be promoted.
He emphasised that regardless of the political rivalry between Lawal and Matawalle, the disturbing activities of bandits ought to compel them to unite and defeat the threat in order to save the lives of innocent people.
The lawmaker explained that the Minister of State for Defence was coordinating the fight against bandits on behalf of President Tinubu, who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
“The President is the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Under our constitution, the President has the right to delegate any of his ministers to undertake assignments on his behalf. It is under this constitutional right that the Minister of State for Defence and all service chiefs were sent on a mission to fight and defeat the bandits,” he said.
He wondered how the federal government’s good gesture could turn into something else, rather than receiving praise and commendation.
“Many of us were surprised at how this well-intended gesture of the federal government was turned into bitter enmity and the exchange of harsh words as if you are not happy with this development,” he added.
Takori stressed that criticism against Matawalle’s mission to end banditry in the North West was uncalled for, as banditry has destroyed the entire region, and finding a solution should be the focus.
“Solidarity is not an act of charity but a mutual understanding between forces fighting for the same objective,” the lawmaker explained.
He therefore appealed for more understanding and collaboration between the state and federal governments in the fight against banditry so that the people can have peace in the area.
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