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From Okwe Obi, Abuja
The Southern Nigeria Youth Movement has implored Governor Daudu Lawal of Zamfara State, to work with the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to address banditry ravaging the state.
The group’s President Ikechukwu Nnamdi Okeke, in a statement yesterday, said the series of attacks against Matawalle by some overzealous hirelings of governor Lawal, was not fostering collaboration between the governor and the Minister.
Okeke said: “Matawalle and Lawal promised the nation that they would work together in the fight against banditry and related offences to make Zamfara State safer.
“Unfortunately, Governor Lawal is not ready to work with the Minister having been blackmailing him on daily basis using his social media handlers to tarnish his image.
“Daily the governor, his media aides and social media handlers always apportion blames on the performance of Matawalle’s administration from 2019 to 2023, to hoodwink unsuspecting members of the public from his clueless government while he junkets across the globe claiming to attract investors when the state is not safe for indigenes not to mention foreigners.
“Dragging Matawalle’s name in the mud will not attract any public sympathy to him.
“The good people of Zamfara State expect him to concentrate in providing fruits of democracy and fulfil his campaign promises as Executive Governor of the state which he swore with Holy Quran to uphold the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Lawal abandoned every responsibility of any responsible government which is to provide security to the people.
“Zamfara boils on daily basis and in the news for killings, kidnapping for ransom, displacement of people from their ancestral homes by bandits who now operate unchallenged.
“Presently, Governor Lawal is out of the country while all the 14 Local Government Areas of the state are under heavy attacks by these criminal armed bandits forcing the State Government on the recommendation of the State Security Council on 3rd April 2024, to order restriction of movement along the state’s borders with Katsina and Sokoto from 7 p.m to 6 a.m following resurgence of terrorists attacks on innocent people including Moslem worshippers who are being killed and kidnapped during morning and evening prayers in this glorious spiritual month of Ramadan in Gusau, the state capital.
“These terrorists attacks occur daily yet the governor’s praise singers blame Matawalle for failure to provide security of lives and property after living office over 10 months ago.
“Southern Nigeria Youth Movement wants to refresh Governor Lawal’s memory that Dr Bello Matawalle has been appointed Minister of Defence for State by President Bola Tinubu to champion the Renewed Hope agenda in tackling insecurity in Nigeria which comprises Boko Haram, banditry, insurgency, kidnapping, secession (IPOB), Eastern Security Network, militancy, communal conflicts, farmers – herders conflicts,cultism, oil bunkering, piracy etc.
“The Defence Minister’s main responsibility is to manage all branches of the Nigerian Armed Forces, to maintain a modern, competent, and professional military force for the protection of the national territory, maritime interests, airspace, and constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The Minister of Defence is assisted by the Minister of State for Defence to achieve this critical national duty. Many ministers and governors across the country visit Minister of Defence for State, Dr Bello Matawalle regularly to discuss security situation of their states and ministries.
“Southern Youth have no intention to join issues with Governor Dauda Lawal and his media team, but compelled to respond in national interest.”
On the N14.26bn loan for completion of Zamfara Cargo International Airport announced by the Debt Management Office (DMO), he said: “Governor Lawal politicised this landmark people-oriented development project that would have provided employment and revive the state’s economy.
“As soon as he assumed office and called it a white elephant project and abandoned the funds already provided to complete it in state bank account till the naira crash and astronomical inflation that has drastically reduced the value of the bond.
“Governor Lawal failed to know that government is a continuum from one administration to another for the good of the state and its citizens.
“A visionary, purposeful, vibrant and resourceful leader would have hastened to complete the airport with adequate funds available to do so. Lawal would not have been on regular foreign trips in search of investors if the cargo airport is operational.
“He abandoned it and stashed the funds in the bank to deny his predecessor credit for initiating this far-sighted project.
“It is now evident that the funds for the project was not diverted, siphoned, misappropriated, misapplied or mismanaged by former Governor Bello Matawalle’s administration as alleged by Lawal.”
