ZAMFARA: Matawalle accepts ‘no fly zone’ order, faults rationale behind move

GOVERNOR Bello Matawalle has said that he has nothing against the “no fly zone” order declared on its state by the Buhari administration.

The governor said this while featuring on Channels Television’s programme ‘Politics Today’ last night.

However, despite his acceptance of the order, Matawalle expressed  reservation about the order considering the fact that there is no airport in Zamfara state.

“The decision of Mr President on the no-fly zone, I accept it and I agree with that…People don’t even know that Zamfara does not have an airport.”

Then he asked ” So, the states that have airports and are encountering this kind of situation, what happens to them?”

Speaking further, the governor said that he is ready to resign if that will end insecurity in the state.

There have been unconfirmed reports that bandits get the supply of firearms via their conspirators who deliver the arms through aircraft.

Reacting to reports that the bandits got firearms through aircraft, the governor described such reports as a misinformation, challenging anyone who has any evidence to come forward with it.

“It is just misinformation and if anybody has that proof, he should prove it beyond a reasonable doubt,” Matawalle said.

Matawalle also expressed disappointment that the National Security Council did not consult him before pronouncing the no-fly zone order on the state.

The National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Monguno (retd.), had on Tuesday said the President approved the declaration of Zamfara as a “no fly zone” as part of efforts to tackle the security challenges being witnessed in the state.

Monguno had also said the President approved the recommendation that mining activities in the state should stop immediately.

Matawalle’s acceptance of the ‘no fly order’ came hours after his party, the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) faulted the presidential directive alleging that it is plot to take over Zamfara.

But reacting to his party’s claim, Matawalle just said he was  not intimidated by the no-fly order of the ruling All Progressives Congress government.

He hinged his confidence on his political antecedents

He said, “I am a parliamentarian, I was in the House of Reps for almost 12 years, I know what happened during (the) Obasanjo (era) when he declared state of emergency in Plateau State which was challenged and the Supreme Court reversed it.

“The emergency rule means that they shall put more security in the area so that they can flush out all the criminals.

“If the National Security Adviser thinks that he can do something about it, let all the states, all the northern states that are affected (by banditry) be put on emergency, All the governors will welcome that because all we need is how these bad elements can be flushed out.”