A
Civil Society Organisation, CSO, called Competent Governance for
Accountability and Civic Trust, CGACT, on Monday, backed Governor of
Zamfara State, Bello Matawale, on approach to tackle insecurity plaguing
the State.
This was the
stand of CGACT’s Convener, Amb Adebayo Michael, during a press
conference held in Abuja, on the worrisome plight of insecurity in the
country.
According to Michael who commended the
Governor for taking the initiative to address the protracted issue of
insecurity in his State said dialogue is one of the best methods to
drastically reduce insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, and other violent
crimes.
He also explained that peacebuilding does
not happen in one day but it is a continuous thing as more stakeholders
are involved in the process until everybody is brought on board to talk
and express themselves in order to know and understand their agitation.
He
also added that peacebuilding being a long-term process demands
persuasion of parties involved to embrace dialogue, rebuild the broken
relationship, build mutual trust, strengthen relevant institutions that
foster peace, give parties sense of belonging, agreements signed if
necessary, and other things put in place before lasting peace could be
achieved to end the violence.
He also spoke on the
recent visit by renowned Islamic Scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Gumi to
hideouts of bandits was a positive step in the right direction as far as
dialogue is concerned.
He
(Michael) commended Sheikh Gumi for that move as it is yielding
positive results, contrary to the protest and accusation against the
Governor in some sections of conventional and social media platforms.
He
said: “An online media recently accused the Governor of Zamfara State,
Bello Matawale, of sponsoring the said bandits thereby alleging the
Governor bought Hilux vehicles worth millions as a gift to the bandits
after much verification and facts findings by the Competent Governance
for Accountability and Civic Trust discovered the various allegations to
be imaginary and cheap blackmail to rubbish a performing patriot and a
seasoned Governor who has dedicated his all to the State and service to
humanity whom should be commended and rewarded for dedicating his best
to the growth and well being of Zamfara people since his assumption in
office.
“It will be
recalled that the lasting peace in the Niger Delta region won’t have
been possible without dialogue through the idea of the then
Commander-in-Chief, President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua who in his
magnanimity gave the dialogue a chance to the then militants in the
Niger Delta region thereby bringing peace which gave the militants
Amnesty.
“We, therefore, implore all relevant
stakeholders in the country to support the transformational dialogue
drive and peace build process been explored by the laudable feat
attained in the recent peace engagement advocacy been adopted by his
Excellency, the ever dogged and dynamic Governor of Zamfara State, which
has been yielding results.”
He
also said that “Peace in the world over is the best thing to happen to
any nation as Nigeria is been bedeviled with series of crisis and
security challenges in recent times.
“The President
Muhammadu Buhari-led administration is geared towards fighting
corruption, tackling security issues as well as diversifying the economy
to grow the revenue base to meet pressing development needs that would
lead to job creation for Nigerians and uniting the country.”
Courtesy: Vanguard News Nigeria
