As insecurity continues to ravSage parts of Northern Nigeria, Earl Osaro Onaiwu, founding Director-General of the PDP Governors’ Forum, has called on the Federal Government to set aside partisan differences and offer immediate, tangible support to Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State in his ongoing efforts to safeguard the lives of innocent citizens.
In a strongly worded yet heartfelt statement, Onaiwu described Governor Lawal’s resolve to restore peace in Zamfara as courageous and deserving of national backing.
“This is not the time for politics; it’s time to rescue our people. Governor Lawal is doing everything he can, but he needs full federal support to win this fight. The people of Zamfara have suffered for too long—they deserve real change,” Onaiwu stated.
Governor Lawal has taken bold and visible steps, including the establishment of community-based security systems, challenging entrenched systems, and amplifying the voices of ordinary citizens. However, his efforts are constrained by a federal security architecture that controls the military, intelligence, and logistical frameworks necessary for large-scale operations.
“Let’s be honest—no state can combat this level of violence alone. Governor Lawal has demonstrated exceptional leadership, but he is approaching the limits of what can be achieved without the full support of the federal government,” Onaiwu added.
He highlighted the emotional and social toll the crisis has taken on the people of Zamfara—entire communities living in fear, families displaced, children unable to attend school, and farmers abandoning their land.
“It’s heartbreaking. These are our people—not statistics. They are mothers, fathers, children, and elders. We owe them more than silence; we owe them action.”
Onaiwu urged President Bola Tinubu and national security agencies to see Zamfara not merely as a troubled state, but as a reflection of a nation in urgent need of healing, empathy, and decisive leadership.
“We cannot afford to treat security as a partisan issue. Safety is a fundamental right. If we fail Zamfara, we fail Nigeria. What is happening there today could happen elsewhere tomorrow. We must act together—now.”
He concluded by reminding Nigerians that the country’s strength lies not in its politics, but in its people and the collective responsibility to protect one another.