By Ayo Yusuf
As the president holds his first formal meeting with the chief of defence staff and other service chiefs today, a former governor of Zamfara State, Senator Sani Yerima, has pleaded with the new administration to open up talks with bandits across the country.
Senator Yerima who had gone to the Aso Rock Villa to pay a Courtesy Visit on President Bola Tinubu told newsmen that the new administration should not shut out terror groups operating in the northwest and other parts of the country the way the government of President Muhammadu Buhari did.
He noted that while it was necessary to fight violence with violence, the government must take advantage of the opportunities offered by repentant bandits to dialogue with them. He recalled the example of former president Musa Yar’Adua whose ability to engage Niger Delta militants in 2007 led to great success in curbing their excesses in the region.
He opined that Nigeria will see changes in the security situation of the country the moment the federal government begin to engage some of these more amenable militants in responsible dialogue.
The Senator observed that the issue of banditry is further exacerbated by the growing poverty and illiteracy especially in the north west region. He said he was not holding brief for the bandits but merely noting the capacity of the Federal Government to make repentant bandits forswear their violent lives.
“These people are Nigerians and I believe that the Nigerian military and other security agencies have the capacity to deal with them squarely if directed and are given the resources they require, support and the political will.
“But the collateral damage that will be associated with the actions they will take is what I believe should be avoided. In the past, the late President Umaru Yar’adua had similar interaction with militants of the Niger-Delta and it was successful,” he said.
Senator Yerima also urged the president to intervene in the power play that has caused crisis between the incumbent Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State and his predecessor, Bello Matawalle.
