News Investigators/ Kabiru Marafa, has promised to resign from office if he fails to address 75 per cent of the security challenges facing Zamfara if elected Governor in the 2027 general elections.
Mr Marafa, who is the Zamfara governorship candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), stated this while fielding questions from newsmen in Gusau on Wednesday.
“If I am elected as governor and fail to achieve at least 75 per cent of my administration’s security objectives within two years, I will resign, and I mean it,” Marafa said.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Marafa represented Zamfara Central in the 8th Senate,
The gubernatorial candidate arrived in Gusau on Monday to a rousing reception by NDC supporters and has since engaged various groups as part of his campaign activities.
He said his decision to contest the governorship election was primarily informed by his desire to contribute to restoring peace, law and order in the state ravaged by banditry and kidnapping.
The former senator promised to apply his wealth of experience and capacity to provide leadership that would address the challenges confronting the state, particularly insecurity.
Mr Marafa noted the escalating security challenges facing the state and assured of a well-crafted blueprint to tackle the menace that had claimed thousands of lives in the state within the last decade.
According to him, details of the security strategies could not be disclosed publicly, describing such information as sensitive.
He, however, assured that: “I have been in the system and I know exactly what to do if elected as governor.”
He noted that his experience in Zamfara politics had given him an understanding of the security challenges facing the state and believed he could contribute towards addressing them with strong political will.
The NDC candidate said responsibility for security was shared between the state and federal governments, stressing that an NDC administration, if elected, would focus on areas constitutionally within the responsibility of the state while engaging the Federal Government on matters within its jurisdiction.
He pledged that, if elected, his administration would hit the ground running after the transition period, with a comprehensive security blueprint to be implemented from the outset.
Mr Marafa said he would give himself two years to achieve the security responsibilities within the purview of the state government, while expecting the Federal Government to address its own responsibilities.
He said: “Within two years, if my administration fails to achieve at least 75 per cent of my security blueprint, I will resign from office.
“For those who know, my commitment is consistent with my past public service experience. I once resigned as Zamfara State Commissioner for Education after encountering what I can describe as an administrative situation I could not accept,” he said.
Mr Marafa said his decision to contest the 2027 governorship election was motivated by his desire to see Zamfara regain the peace it once enjoyed.
He further explained that the unveiling of his campaign council marked the beginning of a five-day programme of activities designed to engage critical stakeholders, hold interactive sessions and consult with residents on issues affecting the state.
According to him, the team is assessing the party’s level of acceptance, identifying areas requiring greater attention and strengthening its campaign structure ahead of the election.
Mr Marafa said the activities were deliberately organised as an internal exercise involving indigenes of Zamfara State, stressing that the party wanted to assess its strength and understand how residents perceived its political platform.
He said the leadership of the party’s campaign structure was drawn from different parts of the state, with representatives across the various areas.
The NDC candidate explained that the party had embarked on a series of visits and meetings with different groups since Monday, Sept. 14, as part of its consultations.
Mr Marafa said the party’s approach was based on the belief that political parties must understand their level of support and identify areas where more attention was needed before the election.
He also said the ongoing consultations would enable the party to engage directly with the electorate and listen to their concerns.
On the party’s chances in the upcoming election, Marafa said he believed the response received during the ongoing engagements would provide an indication of the level of support for the NDC in the state.
Mr Marafa described the turnout of supporters during the party’s activities as encouraging, and thanked them for the reception accorded to the campaign team on arrival.
NAN
