In support of the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, the leaderships of the Arewa Youths Consultative Forum (AYCF), Arewa Youth Assembly (AYA) and the Northern Awareness Network (NAN) have condemned the recent comments by Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, calling for the resignation of the Minister....READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE ▶▶
The three groups condemned the utterances of the Governor against the ministers, as they called for the withdrawal of his statement.
AYCF, in a statement issued by its President, Yerima Shettima, said, “It is with utmost urgency and seriousness that we unequivocally state that it is not Matawalle who should resign, but rather Lawal himself, given the alarming evidence that has emerged of his involvement in financing terror groups operating within the region.”
The AYCF leader, Shettima, said that the Northern group will not shelve aside the allegation by Lawal to appease bandits with large sums of money in the state, saying that “the intricate ties between Lawal and criminal enterprises are laid bare.”
He cited an attempt by the government to allegedly appease bandits with sums of money, pointing out that “within this document, a request is made for the staggering sum of ₦1.378 billion to be allocated for a dubious state government reconciliation programme with notorious bandit leaders.”
The allegation was, however, earlier denied by the Zamfara government.
According to the group, this initiative raises serious ethical and legal concerns, especially considering that the funds were earmarked for distribution to high-profile bandit leaders, including Bello Turji, Dogo Gide, Ado Aliero, Halilu Sububu, and Gwaska Dan Karami, along with payoffs to certain media houses and influencers.”
Shettima said such transactions indicate a deep-seated complicity with the very elements who have wreaked havoc and fear throughout our communities.
He stated; “Moreover, the recent actions and escalating desperation displayed by Governor Lawal seem to directly correlate with the significant setbacks he has experienced in his attempts to navigate the security crisis. Following the arrest of his former aide, Bashir Hadejiya, on serious charges of gunrunning and international criminal conspiracy, Lawal appears to have adopted a defensive position.
“Additionally, the elimination of bandit leader Halilu Sububu and the diminishing power of criminal factions, attributed to the steadfast efforts of Minister Matawalle and the armed forces, have further exacerbated his unease.
“Governor Lawal’s calls for Matawalle’s resignation reflect not only a diversionary tactic but also a grave misunderstanding of the dire circumstances we face as a region. It is clear that the ongoing ‘fresh onslaught’ by Minister Matawalle has yielded palpable results in the battle against banditry, thereby weakening the affiliates of criminality that Governor Lawal appears to be shielding.
“If we are to capitalise on the successes that have been achieved under Minister Matawalle’s stewardship, we must demand that Governor Lawal steps down. His tenure has fostered an environment where governance and criminality appear to overlap dangerously.
“In light of the evidence against Governor Dauda Lawal and the implications it bears for our collective security, the AYCF is calling for the immediate resignation of the Governor.”
“Should he fail to resign voluntarily, we advocate for the declaration of a total state of emergency in Zamfara State, which would entail the removal of Governor Lawal and the appointment of a military sole administrator. Such a measure is essential to restore order and address the deteriorating security situation through the proven methodologies employed by Minister Bello Mohammed Matawalle”.
AYCF added that “the people of Zamfara and the broader region deserve governance that prioritises their safety and well-being”, adding that “we cannot afford to maintain leaders whose interests seem to align more closely with criminals than with their constituents.”
“The time for decisive action is now,” the Forum stressed.
Besides, in it’s statement, the Arewa Youth Assembly (AYA) pointed out that “our attention has been drawn to a video of the Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal Dare calling on the Honourable Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Matawalle to resign over allegations of financial impropriety and involvement in banditry.”
The statement was issued and signed by the Speaker, Mohammed Salihu who said, “such statement from the Governor is political, misleading and malicious, purposely targeted at disparaging the Honourable Minister of State for Defence and to downplay the landmark achievements recorded so far under him in the fight against bandits and insecurity that has wrecked the Northwestern States.”
Salihu remarked, “We urge the general public to ignore this blackmailing and malicious statement. It is a political witch hunt and one of Governor Dauda’s stunts to incite the people and the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu against the Honourable Minister of State for Defence.
“Unless the Governor has an ulterior motive, it is absurd for him to call on the Honourable Minister to resign over mere allegations that have not been proven. Even when charged, he remains innocent until proven guilty as it is categorically stated in section 36(5) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
“While we commend and have faith in our National Assembly, security and anti graft agencies (DSS, NIA, EFCC, ICPC and the rest) who vetted and screened Dr Bello Matawalle for appointment as Honourable Minister, we caution Governor Dauda to desist from meddling in their affairs.”
“We have one of the best in the world and believe in their capacity and ability to always do what is right within the coffers of the law, adding that there are procedures and laws that must be adhered to according to our constitution, we don’t reside in an animal Kingdom where they operate lawlessly.”
“Clearly, Governor Dauda is envious of the recent successes recorded in the fight against insecurity in the Northwest under the directions of the Honourable Minister of State for Defence, so he moves to discredit the man behind the success, which he is failing at woefully, Salihu added.
“There are also a number of allegations against Governor Dauda, we expect him to resign as the Governor of Zamfara State to face those allegations, unless he does that, he lacks the moral ground to dish out unsolicited advises against his predecessor on the strength of allegations,” the AYA stressed.
Meanwhile, NAN, in another statement, expressed grave concern over the recent public criticisms directed towards Matawalle by Zamfara Governor Lawal.
According to NAN Chairman Salihu Suleiman, “his political manoeuvring is not only ill-timed but also appears to undermine the significant strides made in the fight against insecurity in the region.”
He said, “such actions threaten the collaborative efforts that have been essential in restoring safety and stability, raising critical questions about the current leadership’s commitment to addressing the pervasive security crisis.”
“Zamfara and its neighbouring states have long suffered from a catastrophic security situation, where acts of banditry have ravaged communities and disrupted everyday life. In response, Minister Matawalle has initiated several strategic measures aimed at curbing the violence, including the strategic deployment of military resources and enhanced community engagement.”
