Shinkafi urges Lawal to focus on governing Zamfara not Matawalle

A former governorship candidate in Zamfara and ex-Special Adviser to the former governor, Bello Matawalle, Sani Shinkafi, on Tuesday, called on Zamfara State governor, Dauda Lawal, to redirect his focus from targeting Matawalle to effectively governing the state.

Shinkafi argued that Lawal’s campaign against Matawalle was a distraction from the security challenges in the state.

In a statement, Shinkafi accused Lawal of undermining the efforts of the Minister of State for Defence, Matawalle, who has been working to combat banditry and terrorism in line with President Bola Tinubu’s mandate.

He recalled a recent television appearance where Lawal allegedly claimed that Zamfara is the headquarters of banditry and criticized the military for not taking the fight seriously, suggesting they could resolve the issue within two weeks.

Shinkafi said: “Partisan politics and vendetta clouded his sense of patriotism and national security at a time when Zamfara State was under intense bandits’ attacks. Governor Lawal’s refusal to support the military and cooperate with the Minister of State for Defence escalated bandits’ siege in the state.

“When it became obvious that the governor was not serious to fight banditry let alone provide good governance, the Chairman, Board of Trustees of Zamfara State Security Trust, former Inspector General of Police, MD Abubakar resigned as his reputation, integrity and professionalism were at stake.

“Governor Lawal appointed and abandoned members of the security trust fund, and went after his predecessor in office as if denigrating Matawalle will make him relevant and secure his reelection in 2027, the main reason he is persecuting the Honourable Minister of State for Defence at the expense of public safety and national security.

“Lawal’s tirades against Matawalle backfired as numerous Nigerians, civil society groups and political parties cautioned him to leave the minister alone to do his work, some demanded his resignation as governor, others called for a state of emergency in the state. His attempt to rubbish Matawalle failed. Zamfara State has never had it so bad.

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“Waking up from his long political nightmare with tarnished reputation as an unserious governor, Lawal hurriedly reconstituted the Zamfara State Security Trust Fund’s Board of Trustees with Brig-Gen. Abdulkadir Gumi as chairman. He also constituted a fundraising committee for the state security trust fund with Alh. Sambo Garba, MON, as chairman.

“Having pledged to end banditry in Zamfara State within his 100 days in office, so much was expected of Lawal’s government, sadly, he squandered the opportunity of collaborating with the military and Minister of State for Defence to achieve his own campaign promise of a safer Zamfara State.

“The governor should face his job and leave Matawalle alone. He was elected to provide dividends of democracy and security to the people. So far, he has failed.

“Zamfara people desire and deserve good governance and fruits of democracy. This is what a serious governor should strive to achieve, not how many television shows he staged to disparage his predecessor and distract him from providing national security. It is time to stop this abuse of the office of governor.”