Group slams Zamfara governor over allegations against Matawalle - The Nation Newspaper (2025)

April 15, 2025 by AbdulGafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

A group under the aegis of Zamfara Elders for Peace and Development on Tuesday lambasted Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal over his recent allegations against his predecessor and current Minister of State for Defence, Mohammed Bello Matawalle.

Reacting to Governor Lawal’s comments made during a recent appearance on national television, the group described his remarks as baseless, diversionary, and a reflection of his administration’s failure to tackle the state’s mounting problems.

Chairman of the group, Hon. Aliyu Adamu Kaura, accused Lawal of abandoning his campaign promises while Zamfara continues to battle rampant insecurity, deepening poverty, and a glaring absence of essential infrastructure.

Kaura criticized the governor for sidelining rural development, embarking on unproductive “white elephant” projects, and focusing more on appeasing political allies than addressing the needs of ordinary citizens.

He also decried the deteriorating state of education in Zamfara, citing that over 65% of primary schools across 12 local government areas have been abandoned, with many school buildings left in a state of disrepair and unfit for learning.

“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, Governor Lawal seems more focused on criticizing former Governor Mohammed Bello Matawalle.

“His 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’s rapidly losing his reputation as a leader worth emulating and is instead becoming known as a serial complainer and political propagandist”, he said.

The group also decried persistent water scarcity in th state, affecting the state capital and neighbouring communities.

“The state capital and almost all 14 local governments face acute water shortages, while insecurity has deteriorated more than during Matawalle’s era.

“There’s 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 N4 billion 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.

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“The education sector is also in shambles. Zamfara recorded its worst position in NECO and WAEC exams under Governor Lawal’s watch. Over 65% 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”, the group decried.

TAGS:

Matawalle

Zamfara

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