A former aide to the immediate past Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle, Comrade Anas Abdullahi Kaura, on Wednesday, accused the incumbent governor, Dauda Lawal, of spreading falsehoods about the state’s finances to tarnish his predecessor’s image.

Kaura, who served as Special Adviser on Urban and Regional Planning during Matawalle’s administration, claimed that over N25.9 billion was left in the state treasury when Lawal assumed office in May 2023.

In a statement, Kaura described Governor Lawal as a “pathological liar” for alleging that he inherited an empty treasury.

He challenged the governor to present verifiable evidence to support his claims, insisting that the funds were intact and properly documented at the time of transition.

The war of words follows an exclusive interview Lawal granted to Arise News on Sunday, where he claimed he met only N4 million in the state’s coffers, along with severe debt and institutional collapse.

Lawal described Zamfara as being in “complete disarray,” with every sector dysfunctional and lacking basic infrastructure.
Kaura dismissed Lawal’s claims as those of a “pathological liar” and accused him of manipulating facts to paint Matawalle as a failure.

Providing a breakdown of the alleged funds, Kaura stated that Matawalle left N2.65 billion in the ACRESAL account, N14.33 billion in bond balance, N6.3 billion in UBE grants, and N2.7 billion in NG-Cares funds.

Kaura said: “If he claims he met only N4 million, where did he get the money to pay workers and offset debts as he boasted during the interview?.”

The former aide further alleged that Lawal lacks commitment to Zamfara’s people, describing him as a power-hungry leader more interested in the title of governor than in delivering results.

Kaura pointed to worsening hunger, insecurity, and unpaid salaries that have left students out of school, accusing Lawal of failing to commission a single project since taking office.

Kaura added, “His counterparts, like Uba Sani in Kaduna and the Sokoto State governor, are commissioning projects, while he is busy flying to Abuja and abroad, enjoying himself.

“How can anyone with a right sense of reasoning believe a governor would leave just N4 million in the state account? Lawal has turned himself into a laughingstock.”

Kaura also defended Matawalle, now the Minister of State for Defence, saying he is focused on national projects assigned by President Bola Tinubu and is unconcerned with Lawal’s accusations