A Coalition of Arewa Media activists has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Federal Legislature to consider the option of declaring a state of emergency in Zamfara to rescue the state from befalling into enormous calamity and unprecedented disaster.
The call was contained in a communique issued to newsmen in Kano after an emergency meeting held at its National Headquarters.
The communique read;
This coalition observed with deepest distress that, the security challenges in Zamfara State have become severe in the last three months and are becoming worse by the day.
The persisting problems of kidnapping, mass killings, and banditry are consuming countless lives, ravaging the economy, and haltering any development in the state.
“This coalition decided to speak out loud by identifying where the problems are and suggesting a solution that will address the problem once and for all. After careful and thorough analysis of the situation coupled with wide consultations with experts and various stakeholders within and outside the state we hereby suggest as following:
“The security challenges in Zamfara state are becoming worse due to the negligence, irresponsiveness, and callousness shown by the present administration of His Excellency Dauda Lawan. The administration is showing no effort or any political will to address the problem.
“The Governor is politicizing the security issue by engaging in unfounded allegations against the federal government and an unnecessary political vendetta against his predecessor.
“He is frustrating any national and regional efforts to address the pressing security issues in the state on personal political interest and considerations.
“Several attempts by the federal government through the Ministry of Defense to ensure that collaborative, collective, and effective measures are put in place to tackle the worsening security challenges were on many occasions frustrated and rubbished by the state government without reason.
“Unfortunately, the lack of responsive leadership and commitment to safeguard the lives and properties of the good people of Zamfara state was vividly displayed by the decision of the governor to embark on a foreign trip when the female students of the federal university Gusau were abducted.
“What we witnessed was a unilateral effort by the federal government which immediately embarked on a rescue mission through its relevant security agencies.
“It is apparent that the main focus of Dauda Lawan’s administration is not security or any form of good governance but political vendetta, discrediting others and playing a blame game at the expense of the state’s wellbeing.
“Such public betrayal by the state government will create nothing but devastating consequences and unprecedented distractions in the state. Thus the state government displayed all tendencies to lead the state to unbearable insecurity escalation.
“This coalition sincerely calls upon the President of the Federal Republic and the federal legislature to consider the option of declaring a state of emergency in Zamfara state to rescue the state from befalling into enormous calamity and unprecedented disaster.
This became necessary because, no effective security measure is possible without having an able leadership in the state that will be willing, ready, and sincere to collaborate with the Federal Government and other stakeholders to address the problem.
“Without synergy and cooperation, there will be no time for a successful campaign against insecurity in the state.
“We urge the federal executives and legislature to put any political consideration and sensitivity aside and act decisively to rescue Zamfara state from the eminent destruction it is heading to.
