The Northern Youths Awareness (NYA) has accused Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, of being unsettled by the growing political influence of the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According a statement on Wednesday, the National Coordinator of NYA, Mustepha Gaya, claimed that Governor Lawal, a key member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), is worried about Matawalle’s loyalty to President Bola Tinubu and his increasing prominence in Northern politics.
According to Gaya, Lawal views Matawalle’s rising political stature as a threat, especially due to the Minister’s close ties with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
He alleged that the PDP is using Lawal to orchestrate distractions within Zamfara State in a bid to diminish Matawalle’s influence.
Reports from Zamfara and parts of neighboring Katsina State in the Northwest paint a grim picture of ongoing violence as armed bandits continue to wreak havoc on local communities. These criminal gangs have launched brutal attacks, abducting, killing, robbing villagers and travelers, and engaging in widespread cattle rustling.
While casualty figures are often debated and sometimes exaggerated or downplayed by political actors, the human toll remains alarming, according to local sources.
The causes of the conflict are viewed from different perspectives. Some analysts point to the impact of climate change, particularly reduced rainfall, which has led to competition over scarce arable land and pastures, fueling tensions in these agrarian communities.
Others, however, attribute the crisis to deeper structural problems, citing corruption, the collapse of governance institutions, de-industrialization, rising poverty, and a culture of impunity that has taken root in both state and local governments in Zamfara.
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The escalating violence has left many residents trapped in a cycle of fear, with calls for more decisive action to tackle the underlying issues that have allowed the region’s insecurity to fester.
“Matawalle’s support for President Tinubu has shaken Lawal, who is now being used by the opposition to create distractions in Zamfara,” Gaya stated.
He further claimed that Matawalle’s growing political strength poses a significant challenge to Lawal and the PDP’s chances in the 2027 elections.
The NYA coordinator also reminded the public of unresolved allegations from Lawal’s tenure as Managing Director of First Bank, where he was accused of financial misconduct.
Gaya also suggested that Lawal’s alleged past dealings with former Petroleum Minister Alison Diezani could further complicate his political future.
“Matawalle is aware of Lawal’s secrets, which is why the Governor has been launching media campaigns to defend himself. But covering up won’t solve his problems,” Gaya said.
He further advised the governor not to gamble with the security and lives of Zamfara people for political gains.
Meanwhile, Matawalle has maintained his distance from the insecurity ravaging Zamfara, taking an oath on the Holy Qur’an to affirm his innocence.
He reiterated his commitment to supporting President Tinubu’s administration and ensuring the APC’s dominance in the North.
