A former Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Muhammad Abubakar, has denied resigning his membership of the Zamfara State security committee set up by Governor Bello Matawalle towards bringing lasting peace in the state.
DAILY NIGERIAN reports that audio clip purported to emanate from the former IGP had been circulating on the social media alleging that he had renounced his membership of the committee, following an alleged fall-out with Governor Matawalle.
But in a statement on Tuesday, Mr Abubakar stressed that the audio was not his voice, warning that mischief-makers should desist from dragging neutral-minded people into unnecessary political crises with the state government.
“The former IGP wants to make it categorically clear that, the audio is not his voice, he has no connection with the statements or the content of the audio.
“There has never been a time when such a meeting was held with the members of his committee where such utterances were allegedly made by him.
“The former IGP as a professionally trained police officer cannot make public such a hidden audio clip as a response to a sensitive issue like security and fight against banditry in his home state Zamfara.
“And even where he become dissatisfied with the responsibility rested on him by the Governor, he will appropriately call for a press conference to make his position public,” the statement read in part.
Mr Abubakar stated that the audio was doctored, adding that the members mentioned in the audio are not the true members of his committee.
He said: “The voice in the audio clip has made mention of Aminu Sani Jaji, Bashir Adamu IMAD and Malam Ibrahim Wakkala and to the best of my knowledge they are not members of the IGP Abubakar Security Committee”.
According to him, bringing their names in the audio clip at this moment only confirmed that the action is a mischief one.
Mr Abubakar noted that the fundamental things needed from their committee are to conduct findings and recommend appropriately to the government for action, adding that the decisions to implement the recommendations of the committee are solidly that of the government.
He, therefore, called on the general public to disown the audio clip and all its content, warning mischief makers to desist from bringing confusion into a volatile state like Zamfara.
“The former IGP wish the government well and pray for God almighty to give the Governor the courage to do the right thing in bringing the needed peace for the people of the state,” the statement noted.
Meanwhile, Governor Matawalle, through his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Zailani Bappa, described the audio another one of many machinations of the detractors who are hell-bent towards painting the present administration in a tarred brush.
According to him, these mischief-makers are jealous and angry with the Matawalle-led administration, especially the giant strides recorded within the lifespan of the government.
“They are jealous and envious of the present administration because he has achieved within a short period of time what took them eight years without achieving – Peace and reconciliation,” Mr Bappa stated.
