The Patriots for the Advancement of Peace and Social Development (PAPSD) has strongly condemned recent calls for a state of emergency in Zamfara State, describing them as politically driven, unconstitutional, and aimed at destabilising the state government.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday, PAPSD Executive Director, Dr. Sani Shinkafi, criticized the move as an “ill-conceived and unpatriotic plot”; designed to disrupt the progress being made under Governor Dauda Lawal’s administration.
Shinkafi argued that the situation in Zamfara does not warrant such drastic measures, asserting that comparisons with Rivers State—where a state of emergency was recently declared—are unfounded. He stressed that Zamfara is not in a state of war, and security has significantly improved compared to previous years.
He accused political actors of sponsoring youth protests and recycling old videos of violence on social media to incite fear and discredit the current government. “This is a deliberate attempt to overheat the polity and derail Governor Lawal’s transformation agenda,”; he said.
Citing Sections 188, 189, and 305 of the 1999 Constitution, Shinkafi explained that proper legal procedures exist for handling issues of governance and emergencies, and that the current conditions in Zamfara do not meet such thresholds.
He also called on President Bola Tinubu and the military to continue supporting peace efforts in the state, urging for better equipping and motivation of security forces.
To address security concerns, Shinkafi urged Governor Lawal to convene an emergency security summit involving stakeholders such as religious leaders, traditional rulers, and civil society groups.
He also called on the Zamfara State House of Assembly to resolve internal disputes, including the suspension of nine members, through dialogue and political solutions.
“The focus should be on uniting for development, not creating divisions. The state must move forward through collaboration and peace,”; he concluded.
