Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari on Wednesday said that freezing accounts of Benue State government by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), was an attempt to shut down the state.
Yari, who is also the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), also described the action of EFCC as unconstitutional, and wrong especially as the state was still battling with security challenges.
He spoke with State House correspondents after meeting the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He urged the Federal Government not to allow security agencies to become lawless.
He said โThe freezing of any account of the state government whether Benue or anywhere is unconstitutional and is not right. That is shutting down government. Government must spend, most especially Benue that is facing insecurity challenges.
โWell, we donโt know why the EFCC took the action. But if indeed EFFC freezed the account, from my point of view, it is wrong.
โThis government will not sit down and oversee unlawful operation from the security agencies. From what happened yesterday (Tuesday, Daura sack), everyone can understand that government is following due process and the laws of Nigeria.
โFor one to just send security agencies to shut down the National Assembly, and the action that followed, that is what gave credit to this government by local and international community.
โSimilar thing had happened in 2011 and 2014 respectively, but nothing was done about it, this time around, government said enough is enough. But the government of Muhammadu Buhari is following due process and will never oversee an unlawful activity by any security agency. So in the case of Benue, I believe something must be done.โ he said
Also speaking to State House correspondents, Governor Umar Ganduje of Kano state condemned Tuesdayโs invasion of the National Assembly by security agents, saying that the legislature must be allowed to operate according to law.
He said: โTo use security agencies in trying to prevent them from doing their own normal legislative functions, i think it wrong.
โBut I have to salute the acting President for taking immediate action in order to save the situation.
โThe National Assembly is a very important institution and we not embarrass ourselves and allow foreigners to view us as undemocratic. Itโs very important.
โThe situation now has been corrected. It is something that is unfortunate, we have to move forward.โ he added
