The governor of ZAmfara State Dauda Lawal, has accused the immediate past governor of the state Bello Matawalle, f being involved in the banditry issues that are affecting the state currently.
The governor made the allegations on Wednesday night while speaking on TVC news. He disclosed that the information he has had shows that the information he has got shows that the former administration was responsible for the different activities carried out by the bandits.
He also claimed that the then governor and now Minister of State for Defence misused the funds allocated to the state and gave the Zamfara people insecurity in return.
He noted that the former state governor was involved in many issues in the state. The governor explained that the governor has become involved in so many issues in the state; he noted that the governor should resign from the federal appointment and face the charges that have been levelled against him in various areas and issues. He further noted that the governor was involved in the state’s insecurity.
While speaking and justifying his claims against the former governor, he noted that the former permanent secretary under the former administration had paid ransom to some bandits after his children were taken hostage. The governor claimed that the ransom was paid through the government house. According to the governor, there is evidence that the former governor provided shelter for the bandits in the government house.
He noted that the minister should resign and clear his name of different allegations before returning to the office. The governor also expressed worry that such allegations should be levelled against an individual who holds the office of minister of defence in the country.
Dauda also revealed that the file of different allegations against the minister was submitted to the EFCC before his appointment. He expressed worry that despite submitting the file, the Senate cleared him to be appointed as a minister.
He noted that the former governor was alleged to have misused the sum of ₦70 billion in May 2023, but the new government discovered that the amount was a small amount of the money that was taken away by the government, which has caused the government’s problems. He charged the minister with submitting himself to the EFCC and clearing the allegations.
The governor also stated that the former governor, who was a father to many others, up to 41 children, had failed to show responsiveness in his attitude, noting that it was discouraging to see him not teaching his offspring the good way to live life.
Speaking further, the governor noted that after the state government submitted the documents to the EFCC they were waiting for a response from them explaining that the documents were submitted for over a year now. The governor lamented that it was discouraging to see the governor misuse the money meant for the suffering people. He charged the EFCC to recover the money for the state government, which could help the state government build a good state.
The minister’s Personal Assistant (Media), Ahmad Dan Wudil, explained that the office heard the allegations, but the minister would communicate his positions to the governor in the next few weeks. He noted that a response will be provided today.
