From Olanrewaju Lawal, Birnin Kebbi
The National Coordinator of the Initiative for Transparency and Justice (IFTAJ) a Non- Governmental Organisation(NGO) Comrade Shehu Isah Kudu has asked Zamfara State Governor, Alhaji Bello Muhammad Matawalle to face insecurity challenges bedeviled Zamfara state instead of imposing himself as a Judge on the activities of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC).
Kudu, stated this while briefing newsmen in Birnin Kebbi about the accusation of Governor of Zamfara state against the EFCC.
According to him, “What Matawalle failed to understand is that EFCC and its chairman Abdulrasheed Bawa cannot, by law, investigate or invite anybody for investigation on their own without a petition from public against such a person or body.
“Consequently, considering his position, we expected Governor Matawalle to neither be a Judge of himself nor judging others on the pages of a Newspaper.
“It is on record that no Federal Government in the History of Nigeria approved and disburse funds to public for Agriculture, Agro Allied business, Youth Empowerment and SMEs Development like Buhari Administration. But due to the funds being disburse through the Governors, most of them siphoned the money for their own and their family personal use.
“Apart from the normal allocation to states, Governors received different funds disbursement like Modern Ranch Farm Funds, Excess Crude Oil Funds, Budget Support Facility, Stabilization Funds (for payments of backlog of salaries of which Matawalle collected but did not utilized), Paris Club Refund, Special Intervention, Bailouts Funds, NG-cares Funds and others too numerous to mention.
“Being a long time customer of the EFCC due to his numerous atrocities bordering on money laundering and general mismanagement of public funds, Dr. Matawalle now plays hide-and-seek role, by quickly accusing EFCC and Bawa, so that the general public may sympathize with him and assume that he is a victim of circumstances, that EFCC is victimizing him because he talks”.
Kudu, alongside his Comrade Usman Mohammed Anache General Secretary of the NGO,alleged that Zamfara State Governor have a lot of petitions before the EFCC and he should squarely faced it.
According to them, “Matawalle is leaving Zamfara people in situation where by community members in almost all the LGAs mobilize funds to meet demand of bandits. Recent reports show that in many communities villagers forcefully work in bandits farms before allowed to work in their own farms, while their Governor is busy defending his colleagues Governors and accusing EFCC on whom to invite among Presidency officials; the misplacement of priority to the highest order.
“The last kidnapping in Zamfara State was in Wanzammai Village where more than Eighty Five people were kidnapped, mainly Women and Children and about N1.7 Billion paid as ransom by their families without any effort whatsoever from the Matawalle-led State Government. It is only in Zamfara State more than 56 people can be killed in one day and no any remorseful statement from the Governor of the State.
“No wonder the Zamfara people massively voted for opposition party (PDP) at the gubernatorial elections, while the APC won at the Presidential and National Assembly elections. Matawalle is no dought what Hausa people called ‘Mugu sai maishi’ meaning the bad egg is for his family only.
” In conclusion, we strongly call on Abdulrasheed Bawa, EFCC and her sister organizations not to be deterred by intimidation and unnecessary accusations of Matawalle and his likes in prosecuting any corrupt leader, including immunity-expired persons provided petitions are written against them as enshrined in the Law of the land,” they said.