The Governor of Zamfara, Dauda Lawal, and his predecessor, Bello Matawalle, have traded words over the security challenges and other socio-economic ills bedeviling the state.

Specifically, the face-off between Lawal and Matawalle, the Minister of State for Defence, was ignited during a television interview when Governor Lawal indicted his predecessor over his stewardship in the state.

Addressing Journalists in Kaduna, former commissioner of information under Matawalle, Ibrahim Dosara, accused Lawal of allegedly being responsible for the unending security challenges and socio-economic maladies facing the people.
Dosara said that Lawal should be blamed for the socio-economic problems facing the people of Zamfara, noting that Matawalle, the current Minister of State for Defence, has mustered every support to end the security challenges.

“We are compelled by the circumstances of the above subject matter, in which our government, under the leadership of former Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Mohammed, was erroneously but intentionally accused of wrongdoings while in office as the Governor of Zamfara State by the current governor, Dr. Dauda Lawal,” Dosara said.

“We would have ignored the interview for it’s inconsistencies, lack of focus and credibility, but for the members of the public, who are either not indigenes or Zamfara or are unaware of the happenings in the state for the past two years of Dauda Lawal as the Governor of the State We are obliged to respond to some tissues of lies and concoctions of the Governor.”

Meanwhile, defending himself, Lawal accused Matawalle on Monday, being an incompetent public servant who “could not manage state resources while serving as governor in the state.”

Lawal, in a statement by the Director General of Media and Communication to Zamfara Government House, Nuhu Salihu Anka, said his government is gradually developing the state.

“The people of the state are currently noticing developmental projects in rural and urban areas. Gusau town, the state capital, is now wearing a new look and is competing with other important cities in the country,” Anka said.

“I want to advise Dosara and his paymaster to stop wasting their time, as there is no amount of blackmail and campaign of calumny that could deter Governor Dauda Lawal from executing the people-oriented projects.

“He has started well, and by the grace of God, he will finish well in both the first and second term in office. Dauda Lawal has come on a rescue mission, and the people of the state have started reaping the dividends of democracy.”