By Adam Muhd Gusau
Beyond the unabated killing of innocent souls in Zamfara which the Dauda Dare administration has continued failing to practically address, the effect of the attacks is now on children who fall below the age of five years as reported by the Northern Traditional Leaders’ Committee on Primary Healthcare Chairman, His Royal Highness the Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Samaila Mera who represent Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Saad Abubakar at the programme.
It is certainly due to the state government’s negligence and empty bragging to end banditry that the new variant child killer disease known as polio virus type 2 (CVDPV2) continues to spread in the state.
The governor had promised to stop armed banditry immediately he won the election as well as improved on healthcare service provision, and these twin critical issues seem to be the first victims of the insensitivity of the administration.
The disease that has affected 21 children in Zamfara has also affected 29 others spread across the country in 26 states of the federation and 29 African countries with parents begging for a way out. We are calling on Nigerians to join hands in compelling the governor to stop playing blame politics and act now.
The disease cannot be stopped because governor Dauda has refused to fight bandits to their enclaves making them in charge of the state and creating serious fears for health workers to reach many of the affected communities and administer the polio vaccine on the children.
The immediate past governor of the state has offered himself for discussion with added advice that the state government should invite stakeholders to find ways out of insecurity for the safety of people’s lives and property but the sitting governor retorted with insults.
Governor Dauda has in less than three months of his administration sacked 5,000 workers by removing them from the state payroll and denied local government workers their salary which, as observed by one of the legislators on the floor of the state House of Assembly “is fueling insecurity” in the state.
This is a wake-up call on the governor and the current administration in Zamfara if it cares for the people of the state and the country.
Yusuf Idris Gusau
APC Publicity Secretary
Zamfara State
10th August, 2023