A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, has urged Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal, to double his efforts at tackling insecurity and eleivering good governance to the people of the state.
Shinkafi, who was a former Deputy Chairman of Bello Mohammed Matawalle Zamfara State Governorship Campaign Committee 2023, said the Supreme Court ruling validating Governor Lawal’s election is an opportunity for him and all politicians irrespective of party affiliation to work for the state.
He said that they should prioritise restoring security of lives and property in the state which was grossly affected by banditry, kidnapping people for ransom, cattle rustling, imposing taxes and levies on villagers before cultivating and harvesting of their farm lands by armed bandits, killings and displacement of citizens across the 14 Local Government Areas of the state.
“The 10 months legal battles from Zamfara State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, Court of Appeal and finally terminating with the decision of the Supreme Court on 12 January 2024, is part of the democratic process that should be cherished and supported irrespective of the outcome as it has afforded all players the opportunity to seek legal redress through the courts as prescribed under the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the electoral laws enacted by the National Assembly.
“The verdict of the Supreme Court is a terminal bus stop to litigations on Zamfara State Governorship Election dispute conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission on 18th March 2023.
“This is the right time for progressive governance which Dauda Lawal should utilise to deliver to the people key elements of good governance which comprises of consensus-oriented, accountable, transparent, responsive, effective, efficient, equitable and inclusive. He should rule the state with the fear of God and provide dividends of democracy to assuage the sufferings of the people,” Shinkafi said.
He added, “I advised the Governor to stop henceforth any form of political victimisation, witch hunting and prosecution of political opponents and invite all the critical political stakeholders for unity and prosperous Zamfara State. We have no any other state than Zamfara State.
“I commend the APC candidate, Dr Bello Mohammed Matawalle, the Hon. Minister of State for Defence for his doggedness, maturity and resilience in the political journey that saw him going all the way from Zamfara State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, Court of Appeal to the apex court.
“I urge all members of the APC family not to be demoralised but remain focused and united in building the party ahead of be the 2027 general election for continued service to the people of Zamfara State.”
He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima for their support to the APC family in Zamfara State, the nation at large as well as commitment to the growth of democracy in Nigeria.
