The Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, has stated that he is ready to resign his Executive position, if that will end the increasing insecurity in the State, .
He said this on Wednesday, while responding to questions on Channel Television’s ‘Politics Today’, over the abduction of hundreds of Jangebe Schoolgirls by armed bandits in the State, in the early hours of last Friday.
When asked if he is intimidated by the decision of the President Muhammadu Buhari Federal Government to ban flights in the State, Governor Matawalle responded: “I am ready to accept any solution that will bring security to my State.
“I am not intimidated. If I know that my resigning as a Governor will make the people sleep with their two eyes closed, I can resign. I am ready to do what will bring security. I am not power-hungry. I have been having sleepless night to protect the people of Zamfara State.”
He noted that he has no issue with the no-fly-zone declared by the Federal Government, but advised that the Security Council should have invited him, before making some decisions.
He also clarified that the flight ban by the Federal Government, is not the same as declaring a state of emergency.
Governor Matawalle explained that since insecurity is affecting many States in the Northern part of the country, the ban should not have been declared in Zamfara State only.
He added: “Zamfara does not have an Airport. Many people do not even know. How many times did you hear that an aircraft came to Zamfara
“For the past eight years, we have not had anything like aircraft dropping weapons. It is just misinformation. Anybody with information should provide it. I support any move to promote safety. Ban on illegal mining is not my problem.
“I expect that the Security Council will invite me to give them information that can help, before they took the decision.”
The Zamfara State Governor noted that the Security Operatives have begun tracing some suspects, lamenting that some people asked the abductors not to release the earlier kidnapped Schoolgirls.
“Yes, the Security Operatives in the State are aware that when we are trying to rescue these children without paying any ransom, some people were asking the bandits not to release the Schoolgirls, that ransom will be paid. This is sabotage to my government.
“The bandits asked the Schoolgirls to greet a Watchman for them. An investigation will be carried out, and the people involved will be known.”
More news later…