SOKOTO: Name ‘one’ N/West governor encouraging insecurity, Tambuwal challenges APC

GOVERNOR Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State has challenged the All Progressives Congress to name the North-West governor allegedly encouraging insecurity by sponsoring banditry in the region.

He stated this in his reaction to a statement by the APC acting National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, titled ‘One North-West Governor Behind Banditry, Killings.’

This is coming almost 24 hours after Governor Matawalle of Zamfara State reacted to Nabena’s claim by describing it as “mischievous and uncharitable.”

Tambuwal and Matawalle were elected as governors on the platforms of the opposition People’s Democratic Party.

Nabena, in the statement widely circulated in the media, had challenged “security agencies to investigate an intelligence report linking an unnamed governor to the increasing wave of banditry, abductions and other violent crimes in the zone.

But Tambuwal said, “Playing blame games is not a panacea to the security problem at hand. None of us should play politics with security matters. We should also not play politics with the lives of those we swore to protect. Instead, all hands must be on deck to ensure the collective security of the North and the country in general.

“For this reason, the onus of proof of his allegation rests on Mr. Nabena. He should name the governor he is alluding to as the sponsor of banditry and sundry crimes in the North-West and provide evidence that he (the governor) is involved in all of that which he alleged.

“Otherwise, the security agencies in the country should invite Nabena to provide evidence of his allegation, assist them in investigating the matter and make sure that justice is done.”