A former governor of Zamfara, Ahmed Sani Yerima, has called for dialogue with bandits. According to him, the federal government has the capacity to confront the challenges decisively.
Speaking in an interview with State House correspondence on Monday after a meeting President Bola Tinubu, the former senate minority leader
maintained that poverty and ignorance were the causes of such conflicts.
He suggested rehabilitation programmes as a means to integrate the bandits into society.
Yarima said negotiation is an integral part of governance and should be pursued before resorting to extensive military operations.
“You see, these people are Nigerians. And I believe that the Nigerian government has the capacity.
“The military, and security agencies have the capacity to deal with them immediately if so directed; if they are given the resources they require and the support and political will.
“But the collateral damage that could be associated with the actions that could be taken is what I believe should be avoided.
“If you send an aircraft now to where you identify the bandits, it is not only the bandits that would be affected.
“And if you will recall, Mr President, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua had a similar interaction with the militants in Niger Delta, it was successful.
“So if the government now comes up with a programme of rehabilitation just like they did in the issue of Boko Haram when the issue was handled. I am sure you will have a successful ending to this crisis”, Yarima said.
He also disclosed the President has asked him to broker peace between the Zamfara state governor, Dauda Lawal and his predecessor, Bello Matawalle.
Governor Lawal accused Matawalle of looting the Government House upon leaving office.
The government had recently recovered 40 official vehicles allegedly carted away by Matawalle.
Yerima said plans were underway to ensure that the crisis is settled.
“You see, the issue of Zamafara like you rightly said, I’m now a father in Zamfara.
“And by the grace of God, we will come together and you will see that all the crises that are going on will be over”, he said
He commended Tinubu’s decision to remove the petrol subsidy, saying the action was vital in achieving price equilibrium.
“I am here this afternoon to congratulate Mr. President for a very successful take-off having taken over the helms of affairs of our country,” he said.
“He came up with three quick decisions that I believe as an economist are going to help this country to achieve development.
“First, he removed the fuel subsidy, which former leaders couldn’t do and looked at the exchange rate disparity which he is bringing together.
“It is going to help the export and import system and finally the reopening of the border for goods and services to flow into Nigeria”, Yerima said.
