By Haruna Usman, Birnin Kebbi
All Progressive Congress (APC)- controlled Kebbi state government has responded to Senator Garba Musa Maidoki’s claims during his recent media outings about his contributions to addressing armed banditry in Kebbi State.
According to Abdulllahi Idris Zuru, special adviser to Kebbi governor on communication and strategy, ordinarily, there wouldn’t be any need to join issues with Senator Maidoki considering the sorrowful situation that engulfed Kebbi State, particularly Zuru emirate, resulting from the abduction of Government Comprehensive Girls Secondary School, Maga.
He said the response wouldn’t have been necessary in view of Senator Maidoki’s recent consistent antagonism against the execution of well thought-out projects and programmes by Kebbi State government.
He stressed that for the avoidance of doubt, shameless claims and deliberate mispresentation of facts, let it be noted that since the emergence of armed banditry in Kebbi State, there is never a time when 200 communities were displaced.
“The about 50 communities verified to have been displaced along Wasagu and Sakaba axis, inherited by Governor Nasir Idris, were successfully returned to their homes by a combined team of security agencies deployed by the Defence Headquarters on special request by Governor Nasir Idris that collaborated with the traditional rulers.
“Worthy of note, the procedures for posting of officers and men for field operations and strategic operations planning as it affects Kebbi State peculiar challenges are being handled by the Defence Headquarters with the Governor fully involved and consistently updated.
“Undoubtedly, Senator Maidoki is fully aware of the procedures and the required logistics support provided to the security agencies by the towards ensuring the success of the operations, therefore he should not pretend and be making baseless claims.
“Similarly, the Senator cannot claim ignorance of the fact that the Koko-Zuru abandoned federal road project, the situation that caused devastating effect on the socio-economic well-being of the people of Zuru emirate is being executed by Governor Nasir Idris”.
Zuru maintained that it is on record that Idris has demonstrated visible commitment towards securing the state with the provision of over 100 Hillux vehicles and 5,000 motorcycles to the security agencies in the state.
Other efforts made by the Governor included hosting security conferences for Northern traditional rulers council, Kebbi Elders Consultative Forum, Progressive Governors Forum, Arewa Broadcast Media Practitioners Forum and interfaith religious leaders.
The participants of the critical stakeholders conferences included the Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar lll, the former Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa, a former Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Abdulrahaman Danbazau, the former Director of Military information Major-General Usman Kuka sheka, professor Muhammad Attahiru Jega, professor Muhammad Bande, professor Umar Pate and Dr Yahuza Getso, among others.
“Therefore, Senator Maidoki’s public condemnation of socially and economically viable projects including rehabilitation and construction of educational institutions being executed by the government of the political party he claimed to be a member, using the highly respected Chamber of the National Assembly has ulterior motives.
“As the representative of the armed banditry affected communities, Senator Maidoki has never attended any of the consultative conferences organised by the Kebbi State government which can be like to political hypocrisy.
“However, the leadership of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and Kebbi state government are not surprise with the antagonistic posture of Senator Maidoki in view of his alleged alliance with the Advanced Democratic Congress (ADC)governorship aspirant Abubakar Malami aimed at sabotaging the second term bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Comrade Governor Nasir Idris.
“His resolution to allegedly partner with Abubakar Malami must have been necessitated by several serious allegations of glaring failure in improving the socio-economic well-being of his constituents, who have expressed painful regret over his election, which indicated his imminent political downfall in 2027.
“The alliance of the conspirators was said to have been orchestrated for media campaign of calumny with emphasis on creation of fiction and exaggeration of the security challenges, was being handled by consultants and partly executed political thugs, prostitutes and wayward abandoned youths, brought up without discipline and eventually introduced to drug abuse”, he added.
