The Government was also accused of its incompetence in performing its constitutional responsibility to protect the lives and properties of the entire citizenry.

Zamfara State, Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle made these accusations when he received a coalition of civil society organisations at his Maradun country home.

The Governor expressed disgust over several lives that have been lost in the state and the kidnapped victims.

Matawalle maintained that as a Governor who has no control over the military, police, and other security agencies, “I decided to implement arms for self-defense.”

He lamented that most of the military and security operatives who were supposed to be helpful to society with their wealth of knowledge were retired prematurely.

The Governor stated that if the Federal Government could extend the retirement age of medical doctors, university lecturers, and judges, it should consider doing the same for security personnel.

“That is why as a Governor who has no absolute control over the Army, Air force, police, and other security agencies, I asked the residents of the State to carry arms for self-defense.

“We had dialogue with the bandits but it did not work, that was why we decided to close markets, shutdown telecommunication networks and sales of petrol, yet all these did not work,” he lamented.

He advocated that the Federal Government should extend the retirement age of the army, police, air force, and other security agencies to 70 years like those in the medical, academic, etc.

The group, through its leader, Adamu Kwartarkwashi, said that they would continue to support the Governor’s policies toward restoring peace in the state.

The 35-member sub-committee, known as Technical Committee on Monitoring and Supervision, is headed by Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma. Others on the committee include- Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State; the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN); and the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, who also represents Buhari’s home state of Katsina in the federal cabinet.

Others in the committee include Buhari’s trusted ally and Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu; the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Sadiyya Farouq; and Buhari’s social media aide, Lauretta Onochie, who was nominated as a national commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission sparked a nationwide outrage last year.

An impeccable source in the APC told The PUNCH that the members of the monitoring committee would be the “President’s eyes and ears at the national convention.”

“The duty of Malami and others will be to ensure that the President’s orders are obeyed strictly. It will be like a class captain compiling names of noisemakers. They will monitor those who defy the President’s orders and report accordingly.

“Some of the members of the committee are the President’s closest allies. They were the ones that travelled to London two weeks ago to save Buni’s job. They were with him long before he became President,” said an APC chieftain who wished to remain anonymous.

The President’s insistence on Nasarawa State Senator and former Governor, Abdullahi Adamu; had caused friction among some chieftains of the party including some chairmanship aspirants.

Matawalle in his speech at a rally in Gusau said he is now the leader of the ruling party in Zamfara state. He also said that he had been nursing the ambition of leaving his party PDP for several reasons.

The Governor said, “I am now the leader of APC in Zamfara state and I am ready to work with each and everyone wishing to contribute to the rapid development of the state”.

Governor Matawalle joined the APC with all members of the state House of Assembly and National Assembly Members except a representative from Anka/Talata-Mafara Federal Constituency who remains in the PDP, the state Deputy Governor, Mahdi Aliyu Gusau also did not decamp to the APC.

The rally was attended by Governors of Kogi, Niger, Katsina, Kaduna, Kano, Borno, Ogun, Jigawa, Plateau, and Kebbi State, Secretary to the Government of Federation Boss Mustapha and Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, and others.

Matawalle made the appeal while hosting a delegation from the Federal Government, led by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, which paid a visit to the state over Sunday’s fire incident at the Tudun Wada Market, Gusau.

He said “As believers in God, we see the unfortunate incident as a test. Allah subhanahu wata’ala says in the Holy Qur’an, “And certainly, we shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to the patient. Who, when afflicted with calamity, say: Truly, to Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return.”