KINGSLEY BENNETH, ABUJA
ABUJA: The Patriots for the Advancement of Peace and Social Development has commended the Zamfara State government for constituting a Security Trust Fund.
The group in a statement made available to Daily Independent, also commended the creation of a fundraising committee for the new security trust fund.
The Civil Society Organisation (CSO) in the statement applauded the move, expressing satisfaction that it ends the nightmare with tarnished political reputation that has since marked the current administration in the state.
It added that the Brig-Gen Abdulkadir Gumi led Trust Fund’s Board of Trustees is a positive distraction from efforts expended by the state government in fighting the former governor and now, Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle.
While describing the scuttle as unnecessary, it noted the need for the State Governor, Dauda Lawal, to cooperate with the Minister and security agencies to crush banditry in the state.
It further noted that the change of behaviour by the administration may not be unconnected to the outrage and condemnation of the “persistent malicious attacks to disparage the character, integrity and honour of …for Defence, Bello Matawalle over insecurity.”
The outspoken group however criticised the Governor for allegedly boasting during a television interview that the far north state was “the headquarters of banditry from where bandits launched attacks on neighbouring states and blamed the military for not taking the fight seriously which it could have won within two weeks.
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He also intensified his campaign of calumny against the Minister of State for Defence, Matawalle hopping from one television station to another to tarnish his reputation and frustrate his efforts to crush banditry, insurgency, militancy and terrorism in Nigeria in line with the mandate given to him by President Bola Tinubu.”
While frowning at what it considered “partisan politics and vendetta” at a time when the state was under intense bandits’ attacks, the group bemoaned that the crisis of confidence escalated bandits’ siege in the state.
“When it became obvious that the governor was not serious to fight 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 attempt to rubbish Matawalle failed. Zamfara State has never had it so bad.
“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.”
