The Arewa Concerns Citizens (ACC) has urged President Bola Tinubu and National Security Adviser (NSA) Mallam Nuhu Ribadu to disregard recent allegations made by Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, labeling them as politically motivated and lacking substance.
The AUTHORITY reports that the controversy began when Governor Lawal accused the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, of being connected to the banditry crisis affecting Zamfara State.
Lawal claimed to have presented “the facts” to both President Tinubu and NSA Ribadu, alleging Matawalle’s involvement in the region’s security issues.
Matawalle, who governed Zamfara from 2019 to 2023, has vehemently denied the accusations, defending his approach to negotiating with bandits as a strategy to curb violence.
“I have no ties with bandits,” Matawalle asserted, calling the claims baseless. “It is unfair to accuse me simply because I chose dialogue as a path to peace.”
In a statement, Comrade Mansur Abubakar, Coordinator of the ACC, expressed concern over what he described as “the politicization of Zamfara’s security challenges,” urging President Tinubu and NSA Ribadu to recognize the accusations as a political tactic aimed at damaging Matawalle’s reputation ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Zamfara’s security and the well-being of its people should not be reduced to mere tools for political ambition,” Kaura stated. “Leaders must act in the interest of the people, not for personal gain.”
Mansur also emphasized Matawalle’s successes in eliminating notorious bandits such as Halilu Sububu, Kachalla Sani Black, Kachalla Makore, and Baleri Fakai, crediting these actions with bringing a fragile peace to Zamfara and surrounding states.
“These are not coincidences; they are the outcomes of dedicated leadership,” he noted.
The ACC further warned against what it described as Governor Lawal’s “underhanded tactics” and called for a balanced evaluation of Matawalle’s record.
Kaura accused Lawal of attempting to discredit a political rival with a more robust track record.
“In infrastructure, agriculture, and education, Lawal has nothing to show. His campaign against Matawalle is driven by fear of electoral defeat in 2027,” Kaura concluded.
