Concerned Kebbi Citizens, CKC, a socioeconomic development forum, has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene and stop the planned imposition of General Aminu Muhammed Bande, the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Kebbi State.
With just days to the gubernatorial and state House of Assembly elections slated for the 11th of March, the CKC alleged that the reasons Bande (rtd) is so desperate for power soon after his retirement is to acquire immunity from investigation and prosecution over his links with bandits.
According to Malam Ibrahim Dangana, spokesman of the group, “It is a do-or-die race for the retired General because he needs to cover his tracks in aiding and abetting banditry and kidnapping in the northwest geopolitical zone while in service.”
The CKC alleged that while General Bande was in charge of the Nigerian Army in Katsina State between 2016 and 2019, he was collecting N6 million monthly from each of the 11 local government area councils suffering incessant attacks from bandits.
He noted that despite the payments of such huge amounts as security support, the conditions of the people only kept getting worse until he was transferred to Sokoto to oversee Katsina, Zamfara, Kebbi and the host state.
As claimed by the group, similar scenario played out with the General extorting money without any results. “For instance, General Bande collected over N30 million from government promising to organise the rescue of the kidnapped students of Federal Government College Yauri but till date 11 of them are still with the kidnappers.”
It added, “We believe Bande used his position and pretended to negotiate with the bandits simply to amass funds which he believes will buy him the governorship of our dear state. We appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari to broadcast a special message to caution our voters against such a calamity as he did for Kaduna State.”
The CKC warned that Bande is prepared to pay any price for the exalted seat and he must be stopped in the interest of democracy.
