Zamfara State Govt To Osun Governor,Asking Amotekun To Arrest Our People Negates Spirit Of Federalism

Zamfara State has described the recent statement by an official of Osun State against their people as unstatesman, saying they are Nigerians who can decide to enter any state anytime.

In a press release issued to newsmen in Gusau on Thursday by the Special Adviser to the governor on Public Enlightenment, Media and Communications, Zailani Bappa said the Deputy Chief of Staff was speaking as if the people of Zamfara brought war to the state.

According to him, his remarks do not portray the Osun State government official as a statesman but rather smacks a bad taste.

“Indeed, it is condescending and totally negates good practices expected of leaders in a Federal setting such as Nigeria.

“if indeed, there is an “influx” of Zamfara indigenes in Osun State, and the government feels they “present danger” due to COVID-19, it is the responsibility of the state government to quarantine them, test them and determine their status, not arrest them and turn them back to their “state of origin”.

“ln fact, that is the duty of all responsible governments. Here in Zamfara State, the first-ever two cases we recorded are from other states, one of which is a lady from Lagos State.

“His Excellency, Governor Bello Mohammed (Matawallen Maradun) did not turn them back “to their states of origin”, but quarantined them, had them tested and, today, they are getting the best of care in one of the fully equipped isolation centres in the state.

The statement observed that ‘It is, therefore, against the federal law to instruct Amotekun to arrest “all Northern Youth who had escaped into the state by hiding in trucks” as quoted by Mr Binuyo for deportation to their so-called state of origin.

According to the statement: “The attention of Zamfara State government is drawn to a story credited to the Deputy Chief of Staff to the governor of Osun State, Prince Adeyanju Abdullahi Biniyo, where he alleged “an influx of Zamfara indigenes” into the state and described it as “dangerous”.

“Describing the entrants as total strangers as if they are not Nigerians, Mr Biniyo is quoted to have said “They are received by their fellow Northerners who are already resident in the state”.

“The report further quoted Mr Biniyo as describing the alleged Zamfara indigenes as having “snuck” into their state and will be fished out and deported to their state of origin by Amotekun.