Former Governor Matawalle and his successor, Lawal, engaged in a conflict concerning the issue of in
The recent exchange of words between Bello Matawalle, the former governor of Zamfara, and his successor, Daudu Lawal, revolved around the state's security situation.
Matawalle, the immediate past governor, alleged that Lawal was pursuing a "political vendetta" against him rather than prioritizing the state's security issues. On the other hand, Governor Lawal criticized his predecessor for failing to effectively address the state's security challenges during his four-year tenure.
Yusuf Idris, the spokesperson for Matawalle, conveyed that the former governor addressed a gathering of members from the Zamfara chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) during their visit to his residence in Abuja.
He pointed out that Lawal's actions since assuming office raise doubts about his commitment to the welfare of the people.
Matawalle urged Lawal to engage key stakeholders in devising effective strategies to tackle the persistent security challenges in the state. He lamented, "Since Dauda Lawal took over the leadership of Zamfara from me, his focus seems to be solely on pursuing political vendettas against me, while the lives of citizens continue to be lost daily to the activities of bandits."
Recalling his own approach during his tenure, Matawalle highlighted, "When I assumed the role of governor in 2019, I maintained close communication with my predecessor, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, and other essential stakeholders to address the security crisis in our beloved state. However, Dauda has yet to even appoint a security adviser, leading one to question whether he truly prioritizes the interests of the electorate who placed him in office."
Matawalle emphasized that the state government possesses various means to combat the security turmoil, cautioning that the situation could worsen if decisive measures are not taken.
In response, Mustapha Jafaru, the spokesperson for Governor Lawal, dismissed the former governor's concerns as a "misconception."
Jafaru remarked that Matawalle lacks meaningful input to address the security issues in Zamfara, citing the former governor's inability to halt the bandit-related violence during his four-year tenure.
Jafaru emphasized that Governor Dauda is resolute in his stance and will not engage Matawalle in security matters. Notably, within a brief period of less than 100 days in office, the governor has already engaged in productive discussions with pertinent security experts to chart a path forward in tackling these challenges.
Therefore, the crux of the matter does not revolve around appointing a security adviser or other inconsequential matters. Instead, it pertains to the effective and affirmative measures being implemented by the governor, resulting in tangible successes.
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