The North West Northern Elders Professional Development Groups have condemned the ongoing public confrontation between Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, and his predecessor, Bello Matawalle, now Minister of State for Defence, over alleged banditry sponsorship.
In a press statement signed by Dr Adamu Lawal Giwa, Secretary-General of the group, and made available to newsmen in Sokoto on Wednesday, the group criticised Governor Lawal’s accusations against Matawalle, calling them “unsubstantiated and divisive.”
The group emphasised that Matawalle has consistently denied any involvement with bandits in Zamfara, highlighting his efforts to engage in dialogue as a means to curb the violence.
“Lawal’s accusations, as conveyed by his Chief Press Secretary, Sulaiman Idris, rely on unverified claims and unnamed sources. Idris alleged that Matawalle, during his tenure as governor, provided vehicles, money, and foodstuffs to bandits, yet no concrete evidence has been presented,” the statement read.
The group further pointed out that Matawalle’s approach to addressing banditry through dialogue was not unique, as other governors in Niger, Sokoto, and Katsina states had also employed similar strategies to deal with the crisis.
They accused the Zamfara government of wasting resources on “propaganda and media trials” against the Defence Minister instead of actively supporting the military’s efforts, such as the Fansa Yamma operations, to combat insecurity in the region.
The statement urged all involved parties to stop politicising the issue of insecurity, stressing that political elites, clerics, and others using inflammatory language were contributing to unwarranted fear among the population and undermining President Tinubu’s efforts to eradicate banditry in the North.
“A state grappling with insecurity, poverty, and unemployment challenges cannot afford the kind of propaganda and mischief aimed at maligning individuals due to political differences,” the statement added.
The group called on Governor Lawal to focus on collaborative efforts to tackle the insecurity affecting Zamfara rather than making accusations. “We should all work together to build a nation that reflects our highest aspirations through patriotism and respect,” they concluded.
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