The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, says he welcomes whatever reasonable measures the Federal Government takes to put an end to the needless loss of lives and property in Zamfara and Katsina states, but warns that imposing an emergency rule in the two states can only address the symptoms rather than the cause of the current security crisis facing the Northwest states.
Reacting to the call by Governor Abdul – Aziz Yari for the imposition of a state of emergency in Zamfara State, Atiku said in a statement by his Special Assistant on Public Communication, Mr. Phrank Shaibu, that a fundamental solution must be sought to the crisis to ensure lasting peace.
The statement said the deal being struck between the Federal Government and the governors of Zamfara and Katsina states reflected the desperation of the All Progressives Congress – led Federal Government to “capture” the states at all cost during next month’s general elections.
“The deal, cut at a meeting in the Presidential Villa in Abuja, is simple : The Federal Government will impose a state of emergency in Zamfara, to provide a window for the APC to field a candidate for the governorship election in the state having failed to do so within the time frame stipulated by the ( Independent National Electoral) Commission, “Shaibu said in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday, adding that “everything that is required for this manipulation has been provided by the leadership of the party.”
Atiku said the implication of the plot was that even President Buhari, ‘for all his sweet words on ensuring free and fair elections and avoiding unethical measures to win at all cost, was ready to do anything just to “capture” Zamfara and Katsina states for his party.
The PDP presidential candidate, however, said although the plot was meant to put his party at a disadvantage, the PDP would not lose any sleep over the ignoble deal, since the battle to rescue Nigeria from incompetence and bad leadership would be fought by the people themselves and not by the Governor of Zamfara or President Buhari’s hatchet men.’