Group cautions Lawal over allegations against Matawalle

The Zamfara Elders Support for Peace and Development (ZESPD) has condemned the State Governor, Dauda Lawal over his recent allegations against his predecessor, the Minister of State for Defense, Mohammed Bello Matawalle.

The group, while reacting to the Governor’s statement on his predecessor while featuring on a Television programme few days ago, described Lawal’s claims as baseless, diversionary, and evidence of his inability to address the state’s pressing challenges.

According to ZESPD, Lawal’s administration has failed to deliver on its promises, with Zamfara State still grappling with severe insecurity, abject poverty, and lack of social amenities.
They criticised Lawal for allegedly abandoning rural development, spending huge sums on white elephant projects, and prioritizing the interests of his political appointees over those of the general public.

The group highlighted several areas of concern, including the state’s poor performance in education, with over 65% of primary schools abandoned in 12 local governments and dilapidated school buildings that have become uninhabitable due to decay and lack of maintenance.

In a statement issued by the Chairman of ZESPD, Aliyu Adamu Kaura on Tuesday, the group further raised concern over the acute shortage of water supply, with the state capital and almost all 14 local governments facing severe water scarcity.

Also, Kaura frowned at the lack of standard public health services, with the state’s healthcare system in shambles, and inadequate firefighting equipment, with only three functional firefighting vehicles left in the entire state, despite inheriting 14 serviceable vehicles from Matawalle’s administration.

The group further criticized Lawal for his alleged focus on political vendetta against Matawalle, which they believe has clouded his judgment and hindered his ability to govern effectively.
Members of the group called on Lawal to focus on governance and delivering dividends to the people of Zamfara State rather than engaging in petty squabbles with his predecessor.