Zamfara Politics : Is Gov Lawal allegations Against Minister of State Defense Bello Matawalle Multiplying Annually?

 

By Dr Nasir Mohammed 

Department of Political Science, 

Faculty of Social Sciences and Administration 

University of Wales, 

United Kingdom 

On the occasion of taking over power in Zamfara state following his victory in the 2023 Governorship election, Dauda Lawal alledged and accused his predecessor Bello Matawalle of stealing and diverting 70 billion from the state treasury. His allegations rested upon the former EFCC boss Bawa which Matawalle denied and revealed what transpired between the two, being an allegation levelled against the former governor following his refusal to give a gratification of 2 million dollars ( Two Million US Dollars). Following this controversy, Bawa was detained and interrogated by the Nigeria Secret Police leading to the sack of Bawa, the youngest chair of the nation's Anti-Corruption Boder.

Despite this, Gov Lawal continues to accuse his predecessor of wrong doing, particularly stealing and diversion of the state funds. Gov Lawal insisted that he must indict the former governor who is currently serving his farther land in the capacity of minister and member of the Federal Executive Council, that he has stolen the state governor's convey vehicles leading to the forciful breakage into his two private residential houses, in Gusau the state capital and his hometown, Maradun and catered away all his vehicles, including some personal effects and those of his family. This is the first time in the history of politics and democracy, all over the world, where one served a state as Gov, Chief Security and Chief Executive Officer of a state is treated to this kind of embarrassment, within the week he handed over by his successor, no matter whatever offence he might have committed. This is in addition to the confiscation of vehicles monitised to his cabinet members, as allowed in the Nigerian Constitution. Earlier, on the declaration of the PDP victory in the election, members and supporters of the Gov went on rampage, destroying public and individuals properties and looted assets worth billions of Naira. 

Gov Dauda Lawal, dissatisfied with the speed of security agencies handling the investigation of the allegations he levelled Matawalle, turn his missiles to the issue of banditry and terrorism, the critical challenge facing the state which he promised to get rid of within two weeks of his assumption in, accusing the former governor of sabotaging his efforts to fight the bandits. This was because President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had appointed the former governor as the minister of state defence. Lawal alleged that Matawalle was having links with bandits. 

As if these are not enough, Gov Dauda turns to sponsoring series of petitions and protests against Matawalle calling him all sorts of names, without an iota of respect, being his predecessor and principal having served under him as Senior Special Assistant and saviour from the hands of the EFCC when he was in the Anti-corruption Agency being accused of Money Laundering and criminal conspiracy to commit financial crimes with people accused of stealing public funds. Lawal’s stories in this direction are all over conventional and social media platforms, he was tried by various court of law. 

The most important points to note here is the multiplication of the initial amount of money Dauda Lawal accused Matawalle of stealing and diversion. From the initial 70 billion naira in 2023, to 200 billion naira in 2024 to 500 and 700 billion in 2025. This is why many are asking if the 70 billion naira is multiplying annually. 

When President Bola Tinubu announced his intention to reshuffle his cabinet, Dauda persistently increased the volume of his accusing voice against Matawalle on the allegations of links between Matawalle and the banditry including sponsoring series of protests to the National Assembly and the nation's security Agencies, leading the president to set up a panel of investigation to look into the credibility or otherwise of the Gov. After thoroughly investigating the allegations, the panel of inquiry headed by the the office of National Security Adviser found the allegations as concoction, baseless and unfounded and recommended that the minister be allowed to continue with his good work of carrying out the mandate assigned to him as the minister of state defence. Having satisfied with the panel recommendations, President Tinubu allowed the minister to continue. 

Frustrated by the response and outcome of the investigation, Dauda Lawal sponsored a fake news announcing the removal of the Hon Minister of State Defense from office. A propaganda that went viral, only for the Presidency to once again, denied. It is therefore important to draw the attention of the Gov to the fact that, such do or die fight has done more damage to the economy and wellbeing of the citizens of Zamfara state. He should therefore, instead, focus his attention, state resources to the fight against banditry, which he promised to tackle within two weeks of his administration. It is now two years since the deadline of his promise to the poor people of state of getting rid of the banditry challenges of the state. It would be recalled that senior stakeholders in both religions, traditional institutions and political class of all concerned political parties had severally pleaded with the gov to reconcile with the Minister to put hands together on deck to face the fight against the challenge of banditry facing the state loosing several lives of the innocent people. 

He should know that the position he took is not directly affecting the minister, but the helpless citizens who gave him the mandate in anticipation of the fulfilment of his promise in this direction. 

Public and political analysts both within and outside the state who studied the lingering political turmoil between Gov Dauda Lawal and his predecessor Bello Matawalle arrived at the conclusion that Lawal wants Matawalle removed as the minister of state defence for fear of winning him in the 2027 governorship election, suspecting that Matawalle may eventually avenge the embarrassing maltreament he mated the minister.