Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal has said the state has not benefited from the appointment of his predecessor, Bello Matawalle, as the Minister of State Defence.
The governor stated this during a live appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on Tuesday.
“It is always interesting when this Minister of Defence thing comes up. Yeah, he is Minister of State, Defence, but of what benefit to us? Just about few weeks ago, bandits went to his hometown, killed many people, what has he done about it? Yes, we have minister of defence, but of what benefit to Zamfara State?”
The governor lamented the laidback attitude of the police and the military in combating the menace of banditry plaguing the state.
“We, as governors, don’t have control over the military, we don’t have control over the police as well as the civil defence. In most cases, we get frustrated.
“When you need these people, they are nowhere to be found, and the best thing to do is to set up that kind of security outfit.”
According to him, the uninspiring attitude of federal government-controlled security agencies was responsible for the creation of the state security outfit, Community Protection Guards, in January.
“That is the reason why I set up the Community Protection Guards because I have control over them, and they are doing exceptionally well. I don’t control over the military, I don’t have control over the police.
“I don’t have control over the civil defence. No matter what you tell them, they don’t take instructions from you; they take instructions from the heads of their agencies,” he said.
Mr Lawal also maintained that the creation of the community guard doesn’t have any political undertone.
“I don’t want people being killed left, right, and centre every day. How would I feel to see your people being killed on a daily basis?,” he asked.
He said with the right political will, the terrorists would be eliminated within two weeks.
“In two weeks, we can take care of the situation, but the political will are not there,” he said.
