The war against armed banditry, kidnapping and other social ills ravaging the north , especially,the north west ,will only be successful,when politicians from the regions,shunned unnecessary political bickering, campaign of calunmnies and pull him down syndrom,an outspoken politician, Alhaji ( Dr) Ilyasu Musa kwankwaso,has said
This was just as he hailed the minister of defence Alhaji Bello Matawale, for his boldness to declared his intention to swear by the Holy Quran in order to exonorate himself over alleged allegation levelled against him by the Zamfara state governor Dauda Lawal,that he have hands on banditries tormenting the North West
Kwankwaso who also,a chieftain of All Progressive Congress ( APC) made this assertion on Wednesday,when speaking with press in Kano
He hinted that it be recalled that
Matawalle, now Minister of State for Defence, challenged politicians including Zamfara Governor to swear on the Quran to prove their innocence in the banditry crisis plaguing the state.
“I was the only governor to swear on the Holy Quran that I have no hand in banditry.Matawale said
Matawale,was also quoted to have stated that “I challenged all the politicians, including General Ali Gusau and Dauda Lawal, to do the same. None of them could take the oath, and if they don’t take the oath, that means they are part of it,” Matawalle told Channels Television in an interview on Tuesday monitored by News Point Nigeria.”
According to him,there is need for all stakeholders in the north west,to jettisoned political differences and rally round the Federal government,in it’s quest to tame the menace of armed banditry and negative tendencies bedeviling the north
He however hinted that the persistent accusation and counter accusations between the minister of defence,Matawale and the Zamfara state governor, Alhaji Dauda Lawal,would not help the polity
And thus is enough for a good Muslims to believe him ,that his hands not done and wine,with armed banditry involvement is clean
Aside ,from that the minister also challenged his detractors to be bold enough,do same by announced their innocence through swearing by the Holy Quran
Kwankwaso, therefore,hinted that all these accusations and counter accusations,would only be retarding wheel of socio-economic and political development in the north west and as well be given opportunity to those enemies of the region to laugh at them
Hence the need for all politicians and well meaning stakeholders,to put aside political affiliations,team up and ready to contribute their positive quota towards clampdown on banditry activities
Let me called on politicians and stakeholders in the north west,to work assisdously and in same snergy with president Tinubu’,to address the rampant cases of armed banditries
He however added that now that the military onslaught against the few disgruntled elements,now yielding results,hence the need for all patriotics stakeholders to rally round the minister of defence in his effort to ensure that the I peace reign in the north
While commenting on the recent Federal Executive Council ( FEC) meeting outcome, Kwankwaso disclosed that ” we in the north west ,were highly happy and appreciate over numerios projects propose for the North west”
Amongst these approval given by the FEC,which he believed would enhance socio-economy development are,
The Council approved a contract to build a 258 km 3-lane carriageway with continuous reinforced concrete pavement in Kebbi and Sokoto states.
The stretch is part of the 1000km superhighway from Illela, Sokoto State, to Badagry, Lagos State.
The section awarded starts from Silame in Sokoto state and terminates at Buya Town in Kebbi.
The council approved the revised estimated contract cost for constructing Bodo-Bonny Road with bridges across the Opobo Channel in Rivers State.
He disclosed that the ” contract was awarded in 2014 for N120 billion and revised in 2021 to N199, 923,638,963.87,while the FEC approved another increase to N280 billion, with an additional completion period of 12 months.
Kwankwaso also disclosed that the council approved the rescoping and downward review of the contract to rehabilitate the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano dual carriageway at a lower cost of N740.79 billion. Julius Berger’s job now has a completion period of 14 months and includes the provision of solar lights.
He therefore added that with the above laudable projects been completed,would go along ways to boost economy of the region and betterment life of it’s teeming masses
Kwankwaso however stated that these gigantic projects been executed in the north west, clearly indicated the patriotic gesture of president Bola Ahmed Tinubu of having the interest of the region at heart
