The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Zamfara State has rejected claims by the All Progressives Congress (APC) accusing Governor Dauda Lawal of sponsoring bandits in the region.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Haliru Andi, the PDP’s publicity secretary, dismissed the allegations as “unfounded” and “hypocritical.” The PDP accused the APC of bearing the responsibility for the rise of banditry in Zamfara, calling the period under APC rule the “darkest years” in the state’s history.
Andi went on to assert, “No political party in the history of Zamfara has done more damage to the state than the APC. The party and its leaders openly dined and negotiated with bandits, granting them legitimacy while the people of Zamfara buried their loved ones.”
He also criticized the APC for attempting to shift blame to the current administration, saying it was “laughable” that the opposition party, which he accused of enabling banditry in the state, was now pretending to care about the safety of its citizens.
The PDP further outlined that under the leadership of former Governor Bello Matawalle, daily attacks on villages became commonplace, while government officials reportedly ignored the crisis. “Billions of naira meant for security were looted, and citizens were left to fend for themselves. APC leaders even attended meetings with bandit leaders instead of protecting innocent people,” Andi alleged.
The statement also highlighted the achievements of Governor Dauda Lawal since taking office, which the PDP claimed demonstrated a commitment to reversing the security situation. Governor Lawal inherited a “monumental mess,” the PDP said, but has since worked to restore order, equipping security forces, forming the Community Protection Guards (CPG), and cutting off the political support networks that once fueled banditry.
Governor Lawal’s comments about knowing the locations of bandits were presented by the PDP as a demonstration of proactive leadership and a willingness to act decisively. “The Governor’s statement about knowing the locations of bandits was a frank demonstration of proactive leadership and readiness to provide intelligence for decisive action,” Andi stated. The PDP further criticized the APC for attempting to spin these comments into political propaganda, saying it was clear that the opposition was intimidated by a governor determined to bring peace to the state.
