(Monday Editorial)
We observed with high sense of concern how politics and political accusations and counter-accusations in Zamfara by the political actors are flaming up to a degree that the state is crashing back to square one.
The serving Governor Dauda Lawal has continued to leverage on the antics of the conventional and social media to convince the people that his predecessor Bello Matawalle now a Minister of the Federal Republic is still a problem that is rubbishing Zamfara.
He especially emphasized in his messages how former Governor Matawalle allegedly looted state funds to the tune of N250b.
There are also the accusations that the former Governor have been shielding some bandit leaders right within the Government House of the state and that he Matawalle allegedly have been sharing money to bandits during his tenure as Governor of Zamfara state.
Matawalle on his part has been accusing the serving Governor of attempting to divert the attention of the Zamfara people for failing to do his job and deliver the anticipated dividends of democracy to the people of Zamfara as promised.
In trying to exonerate himself from the allegations of aiding banditry Matawalle insisted that he is the only Governor during his tenure who swore with the Holy Quran that he has no hand with what is happening concerning armed banditry and even challenged the serving Governor and his political allies to swear with the Qur’an just as he does.
Our position in this drama has always been that people of Zamfara should be put at the center stage of rightful development, especially during this turmoil situation of fear and uncertainty they found themselves.
We want the Governor to do the right thing regarding the allegations of funds looting by simply setting up Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate all the allegations of financial misappropriation labelled against the former Governor and his team so that factual revelations can be brought out to the public domain.
Or in the alternative hand over the matter to an investigation agency such as the EFCC for them to investigate and prosecute those found wanting.
It is more decent, and we don’t want to believe that any court of law in Nigeria can shield anyone found wanting in the investigation from facing the law because not even the Minister Bello Matawalle is “above the law”
We can take notice from the Kogi scenario despite and that the bullying game played by former Governor Yahaya Bello EFCC for instance has stood it’s ground that he has to be prosecuted and funds belonging to the Kogi people must be recovered.
Concerning the allegations of aiding banditry, the Governor shall follow the more appropriate steps of making sure that security agencies are provided with details facts of the alleged involvement of the former Governor in armed bandit activities.
We are sure if the facts are overwhelming, the President and indeed anyone who is concern knows how to handle his matter very well because the interest of Nigerians is greater than that of Matawalle or anyone.
Media trial cannot solve the problem, and it will instead further complicate the situation since it is a “court of public judgment” and everyone will work harder to provide his side of the defense, no matter how silly it is.
As for the Governor of Zamfara it is no doubt the right time to close Matawalle’s chapter in the media and face governance out rightly.
Like we always said, Zamfara people needed your attention more in the area of security, education, agriculture, infrastructural transformation in general good governance than still talking about the alleged evil deeds of Matawalle.
Like we rightly mentioned, there are appropriate ways to handle his issue as Minister who has no “constitutional immunity” and if those appropriate ways are followed things would be done better.
You have started well, and you are still on, it is better you remain focus in achieving your campaign promises, and it is our collective views that if you perform to the expectations of Zamfara people they are the most competent judges and lawyers.
We are sure it was the result of “incompetence” that they used in aging Matawalle out of office as Governor in the 2023 elections, and it is always good we learned from the lessons of history so that we desist from making avoidable mistakes.
May God almighty save Zamfara state and it’people.
