Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has stated that the appointment of his predecessor, Bello Matawalle, as the Minister of State for Defence has not benefited the state. Lawal made this claim during a live appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on Tuesday.
When questioned about whether Matawalle’s role as Minister of State for Defence has aided in combating the banditry crisis in Zamfara, Lawal expressed his skepticism. He noted that despite Matawalle’s high-ranking position, banditry continues to plague the state, even mentioning a recent attack in Matawalle’s hometown. “Yes, we have a Minister of Defence, but of what benefit to Zamfara State?” Lawal asked.
The governor criticized the federal security agencies for their ineffective response to the banditry issue. He attributed their lackluster performance to the lack of local control over these agencies, leading to the establishment of the state security outfit, Community Protection Guards, in January. “I don’t have control over the military, the police, or the civil defence. No matter what you tell them, they don’t take instructions from you; they take instructions from the heads of their agencies,” Lawal said.
He emphasized that the state-backed security force was not intended to target political opponents, but rather to protect citizens. “I don’t want people being killed left, right, and center every day. How would I feel seeing your people being killed daily?” he questioned.
Bello Matawalle served as Zamfara’s governor from May 2019 to May 2023. He was the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the 2023 governorship election, while Lawal ran under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Lawal defeated Matawalle in the election, preventing him from securing a second term as governor. After his defeat, Matawalle was appointed to President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet in August 2023 as the Minister of State for Defence.
Matawalle challenged Lawal’s electoral victory up to the Supreme Court, but in January 2024, the court upheld Lawal’s win.
