The Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle, says he is willing to step down if it will bring a lasting solution to the prevailing insecurity in his state.
Matawalle said this on Channels Television’s Politics Today Programme on Wednesday, while responding to questions on the abduction of the schoolgirls in Jangebe by bandits last week.
He said, “I am not intimidated. If I know that my resigning as a governor will make the people sleep with their two eyes closed, I can resign. I am ready to do what will bring security. I am not power-hungry. I have been having a sleepless night to protect the people of Zamfara State.”
Speaking on the decision of the Federal Government to ban flights in the state, the governor said he had no issue with the no-fly-zone declared by the Federal Government but that the Security Council should have invited him before making some decisions.
“Zamfara does not have an airport. Many people do not even know. How many times did you hear that an aircraft came to Zamfara?
“For the past eight years, we have not had anything like aircraft dropping weapons. It is just misinformation. Anybody with information should provide it. I support any move to promote safety. Ban on illegal mining is not my problem.
“I expect that the security council will invite me to give them information that can help before they took the decision.
“Yes, the security operatives in the state are aware that when we are trying to rescue these children without paying any ransom, some people were asking the bandits not to release the schoolgirls, that ransom will be paid. This is sabotage to my government.
“The bandits asked the schoolgirls to greet a watchman for them. An investigation will be carried out and the people involved will be known,” he stated.
Matawalle also clarified that the flight ban is not the same as declaring a state of emergency.
