Zamfara Group Berates Gov Dauda Lawal Over Attempts to Shift Blames on Security Situation
***Says Lack of Sincerity Fueling Insecurity
The Zamfara Good Governance Advocates has accused Governor Dauda Lawal of playing dangerous political games with the state’s worsening security crisis while undermining the Federal Government’s determined efforts to restore peace.
In a statement signed by its convener, Comrade Aminu Yusuf, the group charged that Governor Lawal’s refusal to cooperate with federal authorities and his penchant for blame-shifting have become the real fuel feeding Zamfara’s insecurity.
The advocates pointed to Lawal’s grandiose promises, when he boldly declared he could singlehandedly end banditry within two months.
The group, however, lamented that bandits have continued to sack communities, slaughter farmers in their fields, and occupy schools while children remain out of classrooms.
“The governor’s magic phone has failed spectacularly, and his two-month promise has become a national embarrassment,” Yusuf declared.
The group’s criticism gained fresh urgency following recent revelations from the Minister of State for Defence, Alhaji Bello Matawalle, who exposed what he called Governor Lawal’s “poor security strategy” and deliberate lack of coordination with federal authorities.
The Good Governance Advocates condemned what they described as Lawal’s reckless practice of issuing direct orders to security operatives without coordinating with Abuja, creating dangerous confusion among forces battling banditry.
In their most damning assessment, the group declared that Zamfara’s escalating crisis stems not from lack of resources or federal support, but from Governor Lawal’s “fundamental lack of sincerity.”
While the Federal Government deploys troops, intelligence resources, and coordinates multi-agency operations, they said, Lawal prefers photo opportunities and press conferences to genuine collaboration.
“His refusal to engage key stakeholders like Minister Matawalle reveals a man more interested in political gamesmanship than saving lives,” Yusuf stated.
The advocates dismissed circulating social media reports targeting Matawalle as “desperate fabrications” sponsored by interests aligned with the governor’s administration.
“The governor talks big, but our people continue to die. We need coordination, not confrontation with the Federal Government,” the statement added.
“We’ve lost three years to empty promises. Bandits now control more territory than ever. We need serious people, not politicians playing with our lives.”
The advocates called on Governor Lawal to immediately cease unilateral security directives, engage all stakeholders in genuine consultations, and publish a comprehensive report detailing implementation of his banditry elimination promise.
They praised President Bola Tinubu’s administration for its renewed commitment to securing Zamfara, noting federal successes in liberating communities and enabling farmers’ return to farmlands across the Northwest.
“While Governor Lawal plays blame games, President Tinubu’s administration is delivering results,” they affirmed. “Zamfara residents know who their real partner in the fight against insecurity is.”
