Alhaji (Dr.) Ilyasu Musa Kwankwaso, an outspoken politician and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has called for unity among northern politicians in the fight against armed banditry, kidnapping, and other social ills plaguing the North, especially the Northwest region.
He stressed that political bickering, campaigns of calumny, and a “pull him down” syndrome must be set aside to address the security challenges effectively.
This was just as he hailed the minister of defence, Alhaji Bello Matawale, for his boldness to declare his intention to swear by the Holy Quran in order to exonerate himself over an alleged allegation levelled against him by the Zamfara state governor, Dauda Lawal, that he had hands-on banditries tormenting the North West
Kwankwaso, who is also a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC), made this assertion on Wednesday when speaking with the press in Kano
He hinted that it might be recalled that Matawalle, now Minister of State for Defence, challenged politicians, including Zamfara Governor, to swear on the Quran to prove their innocence in the banditry crisis plaguing the state.
“In an interview with Channels Television, Matawalle had remarked, “I was the only governor to swear on the Holy Quran that I have no hand in banditry. I challenged all the politicians, including General Ali Gusau and Dauda Lawal, to do the same. None of them could take the oath, and if they don’t take the oath, that means they are part of it.”
According to him, there is a need for all stakeholders in the north west to jettison political differences and rally around the Federal government in its quest to tame the menace of armed banditry and negative tendencies bedevilling the north
He, however, hinted that the persistent accusations and counter-accusations between the minister of defence, Matawale and the Zamfara state governor, Alhaji Dauda Lawal, would not help the polity
And Thus is enough for a good Muslim to believe him that his hands not done and wine with armed banditry involvement is clean
Aside from that, the minister also challenged his detractors to be bold enough to do the same by announcing their innocence and swearing by the Holy Quran
Kwankwaso, therefore, hinted that all these accusations and counteraccusations would only be retarding the wheel of socio-economic and political development in the north-west and as well be giving opportunity to those enemies of the region to laugh at them
Hence the a need for all politicians and well-meaning stakeholders to put aside political affiliations, team up and be ready to contribute their positive quota towards a clampdown on banditry activities
Let me call on politicians and stakeholders in the north west to work assiduously and in the same spirit as President Tinubu to address the rampant cases of armed banditries
He, however, added that now that the military onslaught against the few disgruntled elements is now yielding results, hence the need for all patriotic stakeholders to rally around the minister of defence in his effort to ensure that peace reigns in the north
While commenting on the recent Federal Executive Council ( FEC) meeting outcome, Kwankwaso disclosed that ” we in the north west were highly happy and appreciated over numerous projects proposed for the North west.”
Amongst these approvals given by the FEC, which he believed would enhance socio-economic development, are,
The Council approved a contract to build a 258 km 3-lane carriageway with continuous reinforced concrete pavement in Kebbi and Sokoto states.
The stretch is part of the 1000km superhighway from Illela, Sokoto State, to Badagry, Lagos State.
The section awarded starts from Silame in Sokoto State and terminates at Buya Town in Kebbi.
The council approved the revised estimated contract cost for constructing Bodo-Bonny Road with bridges across the Opobo Channel in Rivers State.
He disclosed that the ” contract was awarded in 2014 for N120 billion and revised in 2021 to N199, 923,638,963.87, while the FEC approved another increase to N280 billion, with an additional completion period of 12 months.
Kwankwaso also disclosed that the council approved the rescoping and downward review of the contract to rehabilitate the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano dual carriageway at a lower cost of N740.79 billion. Julius Berger’s job now has a completion period of 14 months and includes the provision of solar lights.
He therefore added that the above laudable projects being completed would go a long way to boost the economy of the region and better the lives of it’s teeming masses
Kwankwaso, however, stated that these gigantic projects had been executed in the north-west, clearly indicating the patriotic gesture of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of having the interest of the region at heart.
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