Vice-President Kashim Shettima has ruled out military action in the troubled North West of the country as solition to the issue of banditry and terrorism.
He, therefore, is seeking the support of Nigerians for the federal government’s soon-to-be unveiled solution to the insecurity in the region.
The North West has been battling with increased banditry and food insecurity that has cost hundreds of lives and displaced thousands more with many stakeholders already advocating for a different approach to the government’s military strategy to the crisis.
The vice president’s position is at variance with that of the Chief of Army Staff, Maj. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, who has kicked against amnesty programme for bandits and terrorists in the country last week, saying rather than repent, beneficiaries of such programmes see the programme as an avenue to regroup and attack innocent citizens.
On Sunday in Kano, Vice President Shettima said President Bola Tinubu was determined to redefine the meaning and concept of modern governance.
He said, “The crisis we have in the North West, further accentuated by poverty and social exclusion is something the president is determined to frontally confront and in the coming weeks, he is going to unveil the solution.
“Unless we want to engage in an endless war of attrition, there cannot be a military solution to the crisis in the North-West There has to be a kinetic and non-kinetic solution.
“And President Bola Tinubu in the next couple of weeks will unveil the Pulaku solution which will address the grievances and social exclusion of our Fulbe cousins in the Northwest; towards addressing the root causes of all the banditry and insurgency in the nation.”
The VP was in Kano on a condolence visit to the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero over the death of Malam Imam Galadanci, an in-law to the Sultan of Sokoto and also to the Emir of Bichi, Nasiru Ado Bayero.
He was received and led to the Emir’s palace by Kano state governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf of the New Nigeria National Party, NNNP.
The Emir of Kano while appreciating President Tinubu and VP Shettima, expressed optimism that both of them would come up with policies and actions that will further engender development of the country.
