Headlines
Independent report Indicts Zamfara, Kano Governors of Sponsoring Nationwide Protests
An independent report has implicated Governors Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State and Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State as key figures behind the recent nationwide protests, which escalated into violent and destructive incidents.
The report, published by the Independent Coalition for Democratic Governance in Nigeria (ICDGN) and presented at a press conference in Abuja on Monday, condemned the actions of the two governors, both of whom are members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). According to the report, the governors mobilized groups to exploit the protests, targeting political rivals, and causing widespread damage to public and private properties.
Significant incidents highlighted in the report include the destruction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) secretariat in Zamfara State, the vandalism of the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) Industrial Park in Kano State, and an attempted arson attack on the residence of the former governor of Zamfara State. The report suggests that the protests, initially peaceful demonstrations against government policies, were hijacked by these political figures to further their own agendas.
Dr. Ben Omale Amodu, the convener of the ICDGN, emphasized that these actions were part of a broader strategy by opposition elements to destabilize the government. He called on the Federal Government to take urgent steps to address the legitimate concerns of the protesters while ensuring that those responsible for the violence are held accountable.
“The report underscores that states governed by opposition parties, particularly the PDP and NNPP, witnessed the highest levels of violence during the protests. In contrast, states led by APC governors experienced relatively peaceful demonstrations,” Dr. Amodu stated.
In Zamfara, where insecurity has been rampant, the report noted that rather than directing their grievances toward the state government, protesters targeted APC leaders and properties, raising suspicions about the involvement of the state government in orchestrating the violence for political purposes.
The report also detailed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s response to the situation, in which he addressed the nation, expressing solidarity with the citizens and promising effective measures to tackle the economic challenges. However, the report noted that the protests had since deviated from their original objectives, becoming a tool for political manipulation aimed at destabilizing the government.
“As the protests progressed, it became clear that external influences were steering the movement towards chaos, with the original grievances overshadowed by a more sinister agenda. This shift suggests that the protests have been co-opted by opposition forces intent on discrediting the government and creating instability,” the report concluded.
The ICDGN urged the Federal Government to remain vigilant and to prevent future occurrences of such destructive protests, emphasizing the need to safeguard the nation’s unity and democratic processes.
Advertise or Publish a Story on EkoHot Blog:
Kindly contact us at [email protected]. Breaking stories should be sent to the above email and substantiated with pictorial evidence.
Citizen journalists will receive a token as data incentive.
Call or Whatsapp: 0803 561 7233, 0703 414 5611
