The Executive Director of Patriots for Peace and Social Development, Dr Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi has accused Zamafara State Governor, Dauda Lawal of propaganda, saying he fails to understand the workings of the government.
Shinkafi, a former National Secretary of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), was reacting to the allegations raised by Governor Dauda Lawal that the Minister of State for Defense, Bello Matawalle only visited Sokoto briefly and moved out to be in Kano for distribution of federal government palliative to the citizens.
He reminded the Governor that the role of the Minister of Defense is to provide administrative support to the armed forces undergoing operation in the area.
Shinkafi in a statement on Friday stated that “the assignment given to the Minister of Defence and the Chief of Defense Staff in Sokoto State by the president is yielding positive results following the coordinated operation and military onslaught against one of the wanted armed bandits’ kingpin in Nigeria and Niger Republic, Kachalla Halilu Sububu”.
“In Katsina State, a notorious bandits’ kingpin, Wala Baburki who terrorized Kankara, Batsari and Safana in Katsina State was neutralized as well as Zakiru Najamilu, a notorious bandits leader terrorizing Maru and Bunjudu rural communities was equally killed in the military operation coordinated by the Chief of Defense Staff and Minister of State for Defense, Matawalle,” he said.
According to him, the resounding success recorded has clearly shown that the political will of President Bola Tinubu to end banditry in the shortest time is real.
He condemned Governor Lawal’s outburst on the national television station and said it was a serious disservice to the nation and an embarrassment to the good people of Zamfara State.
He urged Governor Dauda Lawal to allow Matawalle to be and face his job as Minister of State Defense and face his job of transforming Zamfara state as the Governor.
The executive director defended Matawalle’s visit to Kano and explained that he was in the delegation assigned by President Tinubu to represent him at the flag off of rice palliative for the seven states in the North West region.
“It is very unfortunate that Governor Lawal rubbished this laudable Federal Government initiative, which President Tinubu directed Matawalle to represent him as Minister of the Federal Republic while he was in Sokoto.
“Governor Lawal delegates such duties to his commissioners as he abandons governance and junkets around the world searching for foreign investment for the state,” he stated.
Shinkafi said the governor allowed his fear of Matawalle to blindfold him and questioned his patriotism.
“It is sad that Governor Lawal has reduced governance to propaganda and child’s play,” he regretted, and said his call for Matawalle to resign and clear his name of alleged financial impropriety while in office as governor is laughable and a joke taken too far.
“It shows that Lawal is totally ignorant of the meaning of false allegations and indictment by a court of competent jurisdiction.
“Let it be clear that no amount of character assassination will distract Matawalle from discharging his duties as Minister of State for Defense” the statement added.
“The purported allegations are mere figment of the imagination of political opponents seeking cheap publicity and public relevance. The law is clear on criminal allegations,” he added.
