Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has called on his predecessor, Bello Matawalle, to resign from his position as Minister of State for Defence amidst serious allegations of sponsoring banditry and engaging in money laundering.
Lawal made the demand during a TV interview on Wednesday, accusing Matawalle of leaving Zamfara State in financial ruin and contributing to the state’s insecurity.
“If I were him, I would resign and face all the allegations,” Lawal stated. “From all the information we’re getting, my predecessor was fully involved in some of these banditry issues.” According to Lawal, Matawalle, who served as governor before being appointed to his current federal position, should step down to clear his name and prove his integrity.
Claims of Banditry Involvement
The current governor did not hold back in his criticism of Matawalle, suggesting that the former governor’s involvement in the state’s banditry crisis was substantial.
Lawal alleged that Matawalle kept bandits close during his time as governor, accusing him of supporting their activities and undermining efforts to bring peace to the region. “Matawalle was fully involved in some of this banditry issue,” Lawal emphasized, urging the former governor to address these serious accusations head-on.
Financial Mismanagement Allegations
In addition to the claims of sponsoring banditry, Governor Lawal accused Matawalle of looting Zamfara State’s treasury and leaving it in a dire financial situation. In a previous interview on Channels TV’s *Politics Today*, Lawal disclosed that over N250 billion was unaccounted for during Matawalle’s tenure.
“When I assumed office, I realized over N250 billion was not accounted for under Matawalle’s government,” Lawal said. He explained that earlier reports by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in May 2023 had mentioned N70 billion in stolen funds, but upon further investigation, the figure grew to over N250 billion. “That N70 billion they mentioned was a child’s play compared to what we discovered.”
Zamfara Left in Financial Ruin
Lawal painted a bleak picture of the state of Zamfara when he took over the reins of government. According to him, the state had virtually no money in its accounts and was struggling with multiple financial crises. “When I took over, there was no N4 million in Zamfara State Government account – just empty,” Lawal revealed. He also highlighted the backlog of salaries that had not been paid for four months.
Moreover, the governor noted that Zamfara’s education sector was in disarray, with students unable to sit for essential exams like WAEC and NECO for three consecutive years. Lawal claimed that he had to spend N1.3 billion to settle NECO debts and N1.6 billion to settle WAEC debts, allowing students to finally receive their certificates.
Calls for Accountability
Governor Lawal’s strong statements have intensified calls for accountability from Matawalle, who is yet to respond to these new allegations. Lawal believes Matawalle’s resignation would allow him to clear his name and focus on addressing the numerous accusations against him, which include both security and financial mismanagement issues.
As these allegations unfold, the people of Zamfara and the nation are waiting to see whether Matawalle will address the claims and step aside from his position as Minister of State for Defence to face the charges. The accusations, if proven true, could have significant implications for the state’s efforts to combat insecurity and rebuild its financial stability.