Shinkafi Denounces Demands for Emergency Rule in Zamfara: Politically Motivated and Unconstitutional
APGA Leader Discusses Proposal for Tinubu to Impose a State of Emergency in Zamfara State
Gone are the days when Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, a former National Secretary of APGA and ex-governorship candidate in Zamfara, found himself at the helm of political affairs in the state. Now, he's speaking out against the calls for a state of emergency, insisting they're nothing more than a ploy to destabilize the region and undermine the efforts of Governor Dauda Lawal.
Speaking on behalf of the Patriots for the Advancement of Peace and Social Development (PAPSD), Shinkafi labeled the demands as "calculated attempts" to sow discord in the state, fueled by opposition elements who've lost at the ballot box [1][2].
"There's no comparison between the two states. The situation that led to the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State isn't applicable to Zamfara," Shinkafi asserted, echoing his rejection of such comparisons [2][3].
He pointed a finger at these opposition forces, claiming they're funding protests to achieve their goals through the backdoor [2][4]. The ongoing demands for an emergency rule are part of a broader strategy by certain factions within the state, Shinkafi stated, who are dead set against Governor Lawal's progress [2][3].
"They try to get from the backdoor what they lost in elections," he stressed.
Shinkafi acknowledged the issues of banditry, insurgency, and kidnapping in Zamfara, but argued that these challenges were not exclusive to the state. According to him, these crimes have been rampant since before the current administration, with many linked to criminal gangs extorting farmers during planting and harvest seasons [1][3].
He also emphasized that despite the ongoing security challenges, Zamfara State has witnessed significant improvements compared to previous years [1][3]. However, he lamented that misleading videos and pictures from the past are being repurposed and spread on social media to create chaos and tarnish the reputation of Governor Lawal's administration [2][3].
Shinkafi criticized the constitutional limitations on state governors' roles in managing security, arguing that although governors are referred to as chief security officers of their states, their powers are largely symbolic [1][4]. He called for amendments to the Constitution to grant governors the authority to promptly address security breaches by deploying military forces [1][4].
Shinkafi urged President Bola Tinubu and the military high command to intervene, supporting Governor Lawal's administration and equipping military personnel to combat criminal elements effectively [1][4]. He also suggested a security summit, involving key stakeholders, to strategize and tackle security challenges hampering the state [1][3].
"This will further guarantee public safety and order, and forestall the security breach witnessed recently at Kaura Namoda," he concluded [1][3].
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- Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, despite being out of direct political power in Nigeria (Nigeria), continues to voice concerns about political instability, specifically in Zamfara, where he once ran for governorship.
- Shinkafi, representing the Patriots for the Advancement of Peace and Social Development (PAPSD), has accused opposition forces of manipulating demands for a state of emergency, aiming to undermine the efforts of Governor Dauda Lawal and cause chaos in Zamfara.
- In response to the ongoing calls for an emergency rule in Zamfara, Shinkafi compared the situation to that in Rivers State, concluding that they are not comparable.
- Shinkafi has argued that certain opposition factions are funding protests to achieve their goals, bypassing elections, and that these actions form part of a broader strategy against Governor Lawal's administration.
- In the face of ongoing security challenges, Shinkafi has called for policy and legislative changes, suggesting amendments to the Constitution to grant governors more authority in addressing security breaches, and advocating for a security summit to strategize and tackle security challenges in Zamfara.
