National Issues
Banditry And Zamfara’s Elites Deepening Silence -By Ibrahim Mustapha Pambegua
It worries every right thinking mind the deepening silence and lackluster attitude being displayed by the elites when the state faces existential threat from blood tasty bandits. Zamfara is dangerously drifting into abyss. It is high time the Political class stopped politicizing insecurity and embraced various options available to nip into bud the persistent attacks by bandits in the state.
Whatever might have fuelled banditry in Zamfara state,whether it is poverty, illegal mining or government’s inability to manage farmers/herders crises,the state has become a golgotha due to the frequent attacks by rapacious bandits. The state is always in the news for bad reasons. The abduction and imposition of taxes by bandits is no longer a news. These brave and audacious bandits have resorted to kidnapping in mass . Evidence is the recent abduction of over 100 villagers in well-coordinated attacks. The bandits attack, kill and steal anything they can lay their hands on, from the poor and helpless peasant farmers in porous communities of the state. Going back the memory lane, when late general Sani Abacha’s military government created the state in 1996, it envisioned a peaceful and prosperous state. Regrettably, twenty-seven years after its creation,the state is not at far with its contemporaries in terms of economy development. The state is now battling with murderous bandits who assumed a state role. In the North-west, Zamfara has the highest level of poverty and illiteracy. After the return of democracy in 1999, Senator Ahmed Sani (Yariman Bakura) who governed the state for eight years focused on human development. Yarima’s wisdom behind his human development policies was to reduce poverty and stimulate the economy growth of the young and promising state.
Like ex- governor Ahmed Sani, other governors who held sway, contributed their qouta for the growth and development of the state. Zamfara state is blessed with people of timber and caliber who carved a niche for themselves in various aspects of human development. In military, the state produces General Aliyu Gusau (Rtd). Ali Gusau was one of the finest and intelligent military officer the country has ever produced. The State is also home to colonel Bala Mande (Rtd), Senator Saidu Dansadau, Senator Sahabi Anka, Kabiru Marafa, Abdul’aziz Yari, Mahmuda Aliyu Shinkafi to mention but a few. With these stong pillars or personalities,one must have expected a united and concious efforts by them towards bringing lasting peace in the trouble state. Alas, this has never been the case. These elders who can use their influence or connection to fight the menace of bandits in Zamfara are so timid and obsessed with how to get power either by hook or crook.
In 2019, there was an intense of power play between the camp of former governor of the state, Abdul’aziz Yari and Senator Kabiru Marafa. The fierce battle between the duo led the ruling party to lost all the seats through court litigations. Governor Bello Matawalle who became governor through court order had at the tail end of his tenure a frosty relationship with his deputy, Mahdi Aliyu Gusau, over his defection to APC. Their feud lingered to the general elections in which Matawalle lost.
These political intrigues and desperation to grab power were done at the alter of banditry which ravages the state. Even after governor Bello Matawalle had lost the gubernatorial election and president Tinubu had appointed him as a state minister of Defence, the state knew no peace. One had expected the ex-governor to concede defeat, bury his political difference and work with his sucessor to addres the challenges of insecurity in the state. With the appeal court ruling quashing the victory of governor Dauda Dare and ordered for re-run election in three local government, another chapter of dirties political struggle has been opened.
It worries every right thinking mind the deepening silence and lackluster attitude being displayed by the elites when the state faces existential threat from blood tasty bandits. Zamfara is dangerously drifting into abyss. It is high time the Political class stopped politicizing insecurity and embraced various options available to nip into bud the persistent attacks by bandits in the state. The political class should close their rank and work collectively for the return of peace and progress of the state.
Ibrahim Mustapha Pambegua, Kaduna stat. 08169056963.
