Pulse.ng : Zamfara Elders Urge Gov. Lawal to Focus on Governance

By Sani Idris-Abdulrahman

A group under the auspices of Zamfara Elders Support for Peace and Development has condemned Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, for his recent allegations against his predecessor, Minister of State Defense, Mohammed Bello Matawalle.

In a statement issued to newsmen on Tuesday in Kaduna by Aliyu Kaura, Chairman of the group, he urged Governor Lawal to focus on governance.

Reacting to the governor's outburst against his predecessor while featuring on Arise Television days ago, Kaura described Lawal's claims as baseless, diversionary, and evidence of his inability to address the state's pressing challenges.

Kaura alleged that Lawal's administration has failed to deliver on its promises, with Zamfara State still grappling with severe insecurity, abject poverty, and lack of social amenities.

He criticised Lawal for abandoning rural development, spending huge sums on white elephant projects, and prioritising the interests of his political appointees over those of the general public.

Kaura highlighted several areas of concern, including the state's poor performance in education, with over 65% of primary schools abandoned in 12 local governments and dilapidated school buildings that have become uninhabitable due to decay and lack of maintenance.

He further raised concern over the acute shortage of water supply, with the state capital and almost all 14 local governments facing severe water scarcity.

He frowned at the lack of standard public health services, describing the state's healthcare system in shambles, and inadequate firefighting equipment, with only three functional firefighting vehicles left in the entire state, despite inheriting 14 serviceable vehicles from Matawalle's administration.

Further, Kaura also criticized Lawal for his alleged focus on political vendetta against Matawalle, which they believe has beclouded his judgment and hindered his ability to govern effectively.

He, therefore, called on Lawal to focus on governance and deliver dividends of good governance to the people of Zamfara State rather than engaging in petty squabbles with his predecessor.

"It's disheartening that instead of taking bold steps to address the state's challenges, Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal has become a habitual complainer, consistently shifting blame to his predecessor.

"Unlike his colleagues in neighboring states like Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Niger, who are working to address similar challenges, Lawal seems more focused on criticising former Governor Matawalle.

"Governor Lawal's open enmity and political vendetta against Matawalle have clouded his judgment, portraying him as a weak leader who can't forgive.

"Surrounded by short-sighted lieutenants, Lawal is destroying the peaceful atmosphere and political cohesion in Zamfara. He is rapidly losing his reputation as a leader worth emulating and is instead becoming known as a serial complainer and political propagandist.

"The state capital and almost all 14 local governments face acute water shortages, while insecurity has deteriorated more than during Matawalle's era. There is a lack of social amenities and services, and people from outside the state have been hired for administrative roles.

"Many civil servants in Zamfara earn below 7,000 naira, and salary issues persist, with payments seemingly given with one hand and taken away with the other.

"Zamfara now owns only three functional firefighting vehicles, which puts lives and property at risk whenever there's a fire disaster. This is despite inheriting 14 serviceable and working fire service vehicles from Matawalle's administration.

"Former Governor Matawalle had bought fire service trucks for each of the 14 local government areas, but Governor Lawal has abandoned them, allegedly due to envy and lack of foresight.

"Governor Lawal's administration allegedly spent over 4 billion naira on vehicles for political appointees without state assembly approval. Meanwhile, rural areas lack basic necessities like shelter, water supply, roads, and standard healthcare services. The majority of the public is left at the mercy of banditry.

"The education sector is also in shambles. Zamfara recorded its worst position in NECO and WAEC exams under Governor Lawal's watch. Over 65 per cent of primary schools in 12 local governments have been deserted. UNICEF has expressed concern about the learning conditions, and UBEC hasn't received necessary funding due to negligence and poor coordination under Governor Lawal's administration.

"The dilapidated school buildings have become uninhabitable due to decay and lack of maintenance as the state government withdraws support for educational activities. It's unclear who Governor Lawal is trying to fool with his claims of progress.

"Any governor that fails to use his position to protect his citizens must note go hiring space on TV or radio talking about others failure during their reigns. That governor does not deserve to be recognized for his utterances no matter how eloquently he mischievously stated it.

"Instead of addressing Zamfara's challenges, he seems more focused on attending party activities. Notably, on the same day bandits attacked and kidnapped people in six communities in the state, our governor was seen dancing with other PDP governors in Ibadan", Kaura alleged.