The group, under the auspices of Zamfara Elders Support for Peace and Development, has urged the Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, to focus on delivering good governance to his people and to stop targeting the Minister of State for Defence, Mohammed Bello Matawalle.
They called on the governor to prioritize unity, development, and political cohesion in the state, rather than creating unnecessary tension and overheating the polity.
The group was reacting to what it referred to as the governor’s “outburst” against Matawalle during a national television appearance, describing it as a deliberate attempt to divert public attention from the ongoing successes in the fight against banditry in the state.
Speaking on behalf of the group in a phone interview with our correspondent on Wednesday, after visiting some flood victims in Gummi, Talata Mafara, and Kaura Namoda local government areas of Zamfara State, Hon. Aliyu Mammani Kaura said the allegations of corruption and bad governance leveled against Matawalle, his immediate predecessor, were uncalled for.
So far, the group has donated foodstuffs, toiletries, cement, roofing sheets, and other relief items worth millions of naira to flood victims in Zamfara State.
Kaura stated, “To us, Matawalle’s tenure was much more transparent, beneficial, peaceful, and secure for the people of Zamfara compared to the current administration.
“Today, our people are suffering from poor governance, escalating insecurity, lack of social amenities, and the destruction of Zamfara’s economy and social life because their governor has abandoned his constitutional duties. He is always either in Abuja or out of the country, without delivering commensurate results for the state,” Kaura lamented.
He continued, “We are surprised how supporters of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Zamfara are coping with a political leader like Governor Dauda, who has sacrificed their support for his own luxury.
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“We know that Yarima, Shinkafi, Yari, and Matawalle are not saints, but they are more reliable, trustworthy, and dedicated to the progress and development of Zamfara State than Governor Dauda.”
Kaura further criticized the current government, saying it has become more of a burden to the survival of ordinary citizens, with escalating insecurity destroying social activities in the state capital and beyond.
According to Kaura, “We are aware that many, especially elites in the state, are unhappy with the success of the ongoing military operations against bandits, but we cannot deny the significant progress made in the fight against banditry in our region.
“We therefore call on the Minister of State for Defence, the Chief of Defence Staff, and the Service Chiefs not to relent in their efforts. They should continue to dismantle all bandit enclaves and target those benefitting from their criminal activities in Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina, and Kaduna states.”
While commending President Tinubu’s leadership and support of the military in fighting terrorism, Kaura added, “We also caution him to be wary of sycophants, especially those using executive positions to spread hatred and mischief.”
