APC statement accusing me of sponsoring banditry ‘uncharitable’ — Matawalle

Governor Bello Mohammed ‘Matawalle’ has described as “uncharitable” the statement from the All Progressives Congress, APC, that accused him of sponsoring banditry in the North-West region.

This was contained in a statement titled, ‘Matawalle congratulates parents of released children, regrets APC credited reaction,’ released by Zailani Bappa the governor’s Special Adviser on Public Enlightenment, Media and Communications.

The APC, through its acting Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, had accused a governor in the North-West of sponsoring banditry in the region.

Though the APC did not disclose the identity of the governor, Matawalle, elected on the platform of the opposition the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has dissociated himself from any form of violence in the region.

The statement read in part, “Governor Matawalle congratulates the parents of released abducted children of Government Science Secondary School Kankara, Katsina State, just as he regrets statements credited to the All Progressive Congress on the role of Zamfara State in the fight against banditry in the North-West.

“Governor Matawalle, who has dedicated the whole of his precious time and efforts in the last 100 hours to ensure the release of these innocent children was taken aback when immediately after their release, a statement in the media credited to the National Publicity Secretary of the APC accuses him of harbouring bandits who terrorise the North-west. This is incidentally a similar statement credited to the Katsina State Governor Hon Aminu Bello Masari sometimes ago when in a similar effort, Governor Matawalle rescued 26 innocent girls abducted by bandits in Faskari Local Government Area of the same Katsina State.”

According to the statement, the Zamfara State governor, for the sake of peace will not engage the ruling party in argument but record need to be set straight to correct what it described as “jaundiced perception.”

The statement added, “It is a known fact that Zamfara State under the APC was the worst hit in terms of banditry in the North-west until the coming of Governor Bello Mohammed on board.

“His peace initiatives, which is in tandem with proven records in history across the globe as a viable and necessary option to ending guerilla warfare and similar menace of its kind, is hated and rejected by those who fail or lack the capacity to implement it with honesty, resilience and tact.

“Today, Zamfara State is more peaceful than most of its neighbours because Governor Bello Mohammed has been honest in the approach, a path which could have been the final solution to the problem the region is facing.

“It is very uncharitable due to political differences to attribute the semblance of peace enjoyed in Zamfara State to criminality of harbouring the bandits to terrorise neighbouring States. It is heart-warming to note that His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari is quite in tune with every step being taken by Governor Matawalle and has more than once, commended him for the measures he’s been taking to end banditry in the state.”

The statement continued, “Governor Bello Mohammed wishes to inform the General public that his “carrot and Stick” approach to dealing with the bandits has succeeded in the recent past by settling with those who accepted the deal and has dealt with the recalcitrant ones leading to the elimination of over 300 bandits in only two months. It is therefore, ignorance or mischief to attribute the Zamfara forests as safe haven for criminals. It is also an unfortunate and indirect indictment of the Nigerian Military which is in the control of the Federal Government.

“He wishes to also call on all stake holders, especially those of the region, to join hands together and find a lasting solution to the problem at hand instead of the blame game which is totally diversionary and counter-productive.”