Yari has recruited 8,500 thugs to destabilise polls–Marafa
NEWS DIGEST–The Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), Kabiru Marafa, on Thursday alleged that the Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari, was planning to destabilise next year’s general elections in the state.
Marafa claimed in a statement in Abuja that he had uncovered a plot by the governor to recruit 8,500 armed youths under the guise of Civilian Joint Task Force to cause confusion in the state.
The senator said Yari announced on Thursday last week that he had started the process of recruiting 8,500 civilian JTF members to end killings and kidnappings in the North-East state.
Marafa further alleged that Yari’s decision to ban activities of self-help groups otherwise known as local vigilantes, was aiding banditry in the state.
He said the governor outlawed vigilantes despite all pleas and suggestions from well-meaning people across the state.
He said, “From our findings around his political circle, Yari decided to recruit the 8,500 youths solely to execute his plot to (allegedly) destabilise the 2019 elections in Zamfara State.
“The recruitment is to cause mayhem, terrorise innocent voters and snatch election materials to actualise his desperate desire to hold onto power beyond 2019 by proxy.
“The plan by Yari to use federal might through security agencies to manipulate next year’s elections has been stalled by the decision of INEC not to receive any list from APC for Zamfara State.”
He added, “Yari has therefore decided to arm innocent youths in the state to upturn the will of the people in 2019, since his popularity cannot win a ward for him in the state.”
