Zamfara elders tackle Gov over comments on Matawalle
The Zamfara Elders Support for Peace and Development group has rebuked Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, dismissing his recent allegations against his predecessor, Minister of State for Defence, Mohammed Matawalle, as baseless and a distraction from his administration’s shortcomings.
PUNCH Online reports that Lawal recently opened up about the challenges and progress his administration has faced since he assumed office.
In an interview with Arise TV on Monday, Lawal said Zamfara state was in a dire state when he assumed office
He said, “When I took over as a governor, Zamfara State was in a mess in every aspect of life, be it security at the highest level, education at the bottom, healthcare at the bottom, human development capacity almost non-existent, and it’s one reason why I had to declare a state emergency.”
However, in a statement released on Tuesday in Kaduna, the elders group, led by its chairman, Alhaji Aliyu Kaura, labelled Lawal’s claims as unfounded and accused him of failing to tackle Zamfara’s pressing challenges.
“It’s disheartening that instead of taking bold steps to address the state’s challenges, Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal has become a habitual complainer, consistently shifting blame to his predecessor,” the statement said.
The elders highlighted multiple areas where Lawal’s administration has underperformed, including education, insecurity, water supply, healthcare, and firefighting services.
They also noted that over 65% of primary schools in 12 of Zamfara’s local government areas have been abandoned, with dilapidated buildings left uninhabitable due to neglect.
“Zamfara recorded its worst position in NECO and WAEC exams under Governor Lawal’s watch,” the group stated, underscoring the decline in educational outcomes.
The group further criticised the acute water shortages plaguing the state capital and nearly all 14 local government areas, as well as the deteriorating healthcare system marked by inadequate public health services.
“The state capital and almost all 14 local governments face acute water shortages, while insecurity has deteriorated more than during Matawalle’s era,” they said.
Additionally, the elders pointed to the collapse of firefighting services under Lawal’s leadership.
“Zamfara now owns only three functional firefighting vehicles, which puts lives and property at risk whenever there’s a fire disaster,” the statement read.
The Zamfara Elders Support for Peace and Development urged the game governor to prioritise governance and deliver tangible results for the people of Zamfara rather than engaging in what they described as petty disputes with Matawalle.
“Instead of addressing Zamfara’s challenges, he seems more focused on attending party activities,” the group noted.
The elders called on Lawal to shift his focus to resolving the state’s myriad issues, emphasising that Zamfara’s residents deserve leadership that addresses their needs rather than deflecting blame for ongoing crises.
