In response to the ongoing insecurity in the state, Governor Dauda Lawal has come under fire from the Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking through its spokesperson, Yusuf Idris, the party bemoaned the fact that Lawal’s administration had made the state’s insecurity situation worse.
They charged that the governor had not fulfilled his campaign pledge to put an end to banditry within three months of taking office.
Idris said that Lawal was failing in his responsibilities while armed groups continued to target civilians.
According to Idris, “Governor Lawal must be getting ready to celebrate his second year anniversary with a broken promise that he made during his governorship campaigns ahead of the 2023 elections.”
Claiming that Lawal frequently left the state during times of crisis rather than demonstrating leadership and compassion, he criticized the governor for what he saw as a casual attitude.
Idris also disputed the governor’s assertions that banditry victims receive free medical care at state hospitals, stating that many victims are turned away from care because of a shortage of funding.
When he went to Yariman Bakura Specialist Hospital in Gusau, he saw firsthand how sufferers were sent away due to their inability to pay.
Mustafa Kaura, Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Communications, responded to the charge by calling the APC’s claims “baseless and unfounded.”
He backed Governor Lawal’s security strategy and claimed that since the current administration took office, great strides had been made.
Everyone is aware of the outstanding progress Governor Dauda Lawal is making in the war against banditry.
“Many villages were almost abandoned under Governor Matawalle’s leadership. People are going back to their hometowns today,” Kaura stated.
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He cited recent attempts to lessen the scope of attacks, such as hiring civilian protection guards and increasing security budgets.
In addition, Kaura reminded the APC that Bello Matawalle, the former state governor and current minister of defense, is a member of the APC and shares accountability for national security.
Kaura urged the opposition to cease shifting blame and back continuous attempts to bring about peace, accusing them of politicizing the state’s problems.
Knowing full well that Governor Lawal does not command the security agencies, he said, “It is shameful for APC members to shift all blame to him.”
