Zamfara: Your refusal to support Defense ministry has prolonged banditry – Shinkafi slams Lawal

Dr Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, ex-aide to former Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, has described as a mere face-saving, Governor Dauda Lawal’s recent attacks on the Minister of Defence for State.

Shinkafi is of the opinion that the Governor’s attitude is doing no good to the state in delaying the end of banditry which, according to him, would have been easier if he cooperated with the Minister and the military.

A memo appeared on social media recently showing how the Zamfara government allegedly paid bandits.

In a counter-allegation, Governor Lawal took to national television to accuse his predecessor of involvement in banditry activities.

According to the Governor, the minister was shielding bandits and keeping some of them in the Zamfara State Government House.

He demanded that Matawalle resign his position as Minister of State for Defence, adding that such people are not fit to be in charge of the security of the nation

In response, Matawalle appeared on Channels Television on Tuesday to challenge Lawal to swear an oath with the Quran that he has no hands in banditry affecting the state.

Matawalle gave the charge while rejecting the governor’s claim which linked him to banditry in the state.

In a statement he signed on behalf of the Patriots for Peace and Social Development, Shinkafi said the Governor’s resolve to reconstitute the Zamfara State Security Trust Fund he constituted and allegedly abandoned shortly after he assumed office in May 2023, was a mere face-saving device.

He said that instead of dissipating energy and resources in fighting Matawalle, Lawal should have achieved much in collaborating with the defence ministry and security agencies against insecurity in the state.

“Partisan politics and vendetta clouded his sense of patriotism and national security at a time when Zamfara State was under intense bandits’ attacks,” he said.

“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 about fighting 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 intrigue to rubbish Matawalle failed. Zamfara State has never had it so bad.

“Waking up from his long political nightmare with a 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. “