Report by AMINU DALHATU; Editing by BASIRAT MEMUDU
The Zamfara State Government has declared that no amount of blackmail or campaign of calumny will stop Governor Dauda Lawal from executing people-oriented projects across the state.
This was contained in a statement by the Director General of Media and Communication to the Governor, Malam Salihu Nuhu Anka and made available to newsmen in Gusau.
According to Anka, Governor Lawal assumed office on a rescue mission, and residents of the state have already begun to reap the dividends of democracy.
He stated that his attention was drawn to what he described as baseless remarks by a former Commissioner of Information, Ibrahim Magaji Dosara, during a press conference in Kaduna, challenging comments made by Governor Lawal during a recent interview.
“During the press conference, Dosara shamelessly attacked Governor Dauda Lawal in an attempt to impress former Governor Bello Matawalle,” Anka alleged.
“Ordinarily, I would have ignored Dosara’s blunders and left the matter for the people of the state particularly the civil servants who were denied three months’ salaries and former aides who were not paid severance allowances due to the cash crunch under Matawalle’s administration to judge but however, it has become imperative to set the records straight.”
Anka explained that in the television interview, Governor Lawal revealed that he inherited only N4 million in the state’s coffers from his predecessor, a claim Dosara disputed by labeling it a blatant lie.
“Dosara claimed that former Governor Bello Matawalle left N14 billion in bond proceeds, N2.6 billion in World Bank accruals, N6.3 billion in UBE grants, and N2.7 billion in NG-CARES funds, totaling N42 billion. If that were true, then why were civil servants left unpaid for three months and aides denied their entitlements?” Anka questioned.
He accused the previous administration of mismanaging the state’s resources, embarking on white elephant projects, and failing to leave behind any meaningful legacy, plunging the state into heavy debt.
Malam Salihu Anka asserted that, Governor Lawal’s emergence as leader came at a critical time, and his economic expertise has helped resuscitate the state’s economy.
“In just a few months, Governor Dauda Lawal has paid the outstanding salaries of civil servants and implemented both the N30,000 and the recently approved N70,000 national minimum wage. Zamfara State is currently not owing any debt, domestically or internationally, while government policies and programs are progressing without hindrance—unlike in the past when the state had to borrow to pay salaries.”
Responding to Dosara’s claim that Matawalle couldn’t pay salaries because banks refused to grant loans due to alleged interference from Lawal, Anka dismissed the allegation as unfounded.
He noted that development projects are now visible across rural and urban areas of the state, saying that, Gusau, the state capital, is wearing a new look and now competes favorably with other major cities in the country.
Anka also described as laughable Dosara’s accusation that Governor Lawal is not addressing the security situation in the state.
“Everyone knows the security situation in Zamfara has significantly improved compared to when Bello Matawalle was in power,” he added.
