We negotiated Kankara schoolboys’ release through ex-bandits – Matawalle
Friday Olokor, Abuja
Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State on Tuesday gave a vivid account of the role he played in the negotiation for the freedom of 344 students of the Government Boys Science Secondary School in Kankara, Katsina State.
He also reacted to claims made by the acting National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Yekini Nabena, that he was sponsoring banditry in the North West.
The governor said he would not take legal action against Nabena for alleged libelous comments against him and his government following the intervention of highly respected organisations and individuals.
By Tobias Lengnan Dapam
Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle has said that his administration is working with the Nigerian Military, Miyetti Allah and repentant bandits to restore peace and stability in the state.
Matawalle said the collaboration is necessary to secure Zamfara State from its immediate past position of being “the most dangerous state to visit or reside” due to waves of attacks and killing by bandits.
Speaking with newsmen yesterday in Abuja Matawalle also called on northern governors to form an allegiance to destroy bandits camps and operations in the north.
He stressed that the basic function of government anywhere is to provide security and safety of lives of the governed.
In an interview with newsmen on Tuesday, the Governor said he was miffed by the allegation but has decided to stop the plan to sue the APC spokesperson due to the intervention of the APC National Caretaker Committee and the Governors Forum.
“Following interventions by the APC National Caretaker Committee, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and the Progressives Governors’ Forum, I have decided to hold on to my decision of taking legal action against the Acting National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress APC, Yekini Nabena, for some libellous comments that tantamount to accusations against my personality and governments.
“I have decided to hold on to my earlier decision of the legal action against the APC scribe pending the decision and action to be taken by the party in discipline Yekini for the unsubstantiated allegations he leveled against me and my government.
APC govs seek bi-partisan approach to security
John Alechenu, Abuja
The Progressives Governors’ Forum has expressed willingness to work with other governors across party lines to find lasting solutions to Nigeria’s security challenges.
The forum which is the umbrella body of governors elected on the platform the All Progressives Congress said this in a statement titled, “Rescue of Abducted GSSS Kankara Students,” signed by its Chairman, Abubakar Bagudu, in Abuja, on Sunday.
Bagudu said, “We will ensure that, as leaders, we are able to work in harmony with all governors, political and non-political leaders for the restoration of peace across all parts of the country, irrespective of any difference.
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John Alechenu, Abuja
The Director General of the Progressives Governors’ Forum, Dr. Salihu Lukman, has urged elected and appointed members of the All Progressives Congress to remain faithful to the commitment to service instead of the cheap resort to baseless propaganda.
He explained that a resort to propaganda in the sight of an obvious failure to respond to the demands of citizens, alienates leaders and erodes the party’s electoral viability.
Lukman said this in a paper titled, ‘Political Contestation in Nigeria: Challenges of Benchmarking Party Manifesto,’ presented at the Annual Conference of the APC Press Corps, in Abuja. The paper was made available on Sunday.