Focus on governance, not politics, Zamfara youths tell governor

From Shafa’atu Suleiman, Sokoto

A coalition of youth organisations in Zamfara State has called on Governor Dauda Lawal to set aside political distractions and return to the state to confront the escalating security crisis that continues to overwhelm rural communities.

The Coalition of Youth Groups on Peace and Stability said the governor’s recent expulsion from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) should serve as a turning point for him to “refocus on governance” and prioritise the fight against banditry.

While speaking, the chairman of the coalition, Maidamma Maigadaje Dangulbi, made the appeal in an interview with journalists on Wednesday in Sokoto.

Dangulbi criticised what he described as the governor’s continuous absence from the state despite the severity of insecurity.

He said residents across Zamfara remain exposed to bandit attacks, kidnappings and worsening poverty while the governor is “deeply engrossed in political manoeuvres”.

“2027 is still far; early political battles are taking a toll on governance. Lawal needs to concentrate fully on good governance as the state needs more development infrastructure and services, especially in the rural areas where people are suffering as a result of poverty, insecurity and health challenges.”

According to him, the gap between the state government and security agencies has weakened the fight against bandits, alleging that personnel battling insurgents across the state often struggle to gain access to the governor for intelligence sharing and operational updates.

“The security operatives in Zamfara deserve more encouragement and support, yet the governor is far from them; sometimes they cannot get access to him for intelligence sharing.”

He added that banditry and kidnappings had surged in recent weeks, particularly in Tsafe, Maru, Bukkuyum, Gummi, Shinkafi and Zurmi local government areas.

He said that the governor is being carried away by political travels while rural communities bear the brunt of attacks.

Despite these concerns, the coalition commended the efforts of the Fansan Yamma troops for their recent operations, which they said had stabilised some of the most vulnerable locations.

Dangulbi noted that the troops’ achievements came “despite lack of support and attention from the state government”.

The youth coalition’s remarks follow the expulsion of Governor Lawal and several other party members by a faction of the PDP linked to the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike.

The group urged the governor to immediately return to Zamfara and take charge of the worsening security situation, stressing that the people need his commitment to safety, development and stability more than political battles ahead of 2027.