The coalition of Northern youth under the aegis of Northern Nigeria Youth Frontier has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to call former governor of Zamfara state, Abdul’ aziz Yari to order to ensure that the peace initiative with bandits embarked upon by Governor Bello Mutawalle is not scuttled.
The coalition also commended Zamfara state House of Assembly for repealing office holders’ pension bill in the state, saying that it would be insensitive to pay huge sums to former office holders’ while citizens wallow in poverty.
The coalition urged President Buhari to urgently address the political impasse between Governor Mutawalle and ex-Governor Yari by calling Yari to order.
The group said this will enable Mutawalle’s peace initiatives and measures on raging banditry return peace to the state.
A statement jointly signed by NNYF chairman, Dr Abubakar Salisu Taruni and Secretary, Sirajo Habib Tsafe lamented that while the state government takes strategic measures to address insecurity including kidnapping and banditry in the state, Yari and his supporters continued to scuttle the peace initiatives, thus causing the resurgence of banditry in the state and environs.
“Northern Nigerian Youths Frontiers after its annual general meeting in Kaduna deliberated on developmental issues in Nigeria and insecurity challenging parts of the region, particularly recent political tension cum security threats in Zamfara state.
“We commend the stand of Zamfara state House of Assembly of repealing the controversial pension bill of political office holders. However, we urged them to organise a public hearing to investigate atrocities including looting of state treasury allegedly committed by immediate past administration of Yari in the state.
“We commend Governor Matawallen of Zamfara state over his genuine commitment and determination of implementing peace dialogue with suspected bandits and collaborative efforts in handling insecurity issue which is currently yielding positive results as banditry has ceased in the state.
“We are solidly behind him over his efforts of redeeming the state from terror into new leaf of peace, unity and political cohesion among all the segment of life in the state. We urge him to extend the frontiers of peace and brotherliness to all other states bordering Zamfara towards ensuring sustainable peace, security and freedom of movement.
“The coalition condemns in strong terms the attitude of former Zamfara state governor, Alhaji Yari and his supporters for their continued confrontational acts and sabotaging the ongoing peace efforts and reconciliation initiative of Zamfara state government with bandits.”
