Matawalle: Is Lawal Governing or Gaming Zamfara?

By Lewis Chukwuma

The North-West State of Zamfara is already burdened by the devastating effects of economic downturn and banditry – twin challenges that should fully engage the energy of any focused state chief executive.

But Governor Dauda Lawal has other ideas. Strangely, his main focus, not openly captured in his governance agenda, is unending war against his immediate predecessor and current Minister of State, Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle.

Worse, Governor Lawal’s curious repudiation of badly needed transformative governance in Zamfara State, rather opting for needless internecine war against Dr. Matawalle, is not helped by boot-licking aides who have failed to advise him appropriately.

For example, Alhaji Faruk Ahmad, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Lawal on Public Mobilization and Enlightenment recently, strangely argued that the festering political conflict is not affecting the progress of the state, maintaining that the administration’s objectives were proceeding as planned. Not surprisingly, he didn’t offer any governance metrics to back up his claim.

What is now worrying many observers is that Governor Lawal is now apparently borrowing what some view as Donald Trump-like allegations against Dr. Matawalle. An example is that the governor recently even accused Matawalle of going to Sokoto instead of Zamfara in structuring urgent interventions in the insecurity arena.

But the governor conveniently or mischievously forgot that Matawalle’s security activities flow from a specific presidential directive ordering him and other security chiefs to relocate to Sokoto from where they will sanitise North-West security-wise. Lawal also conveniently forgot that Matawalle is not the Minister of Defence of Zamfara State.

Dr. Matawalle’s responsibility is national. The position of the Minister of Defense is particularly important because of the critical statutory content it drives. The ministry has the statutory responsibility of overseeing and supervising the nation’s armed forces.

Its leader who is a cabinet-level head reports directly to the President. The Defense Ministry’s core mission is to provide timely and effective administrative and support services to enable the armed forces build and maintain a modern, compact, strong, professional, mission-capable and mission-ready forces, for national territorial/maritime/airspace defence and contributes to peacemaking and peace-keeping duties.

It could be recalled that President Bola Tinubu on September 1, ordered his Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, and the military chiefs to relocate to Sokoto State as part of efforts to rid the state and the entire north-west of rampant terrorism.

The north-west is arguably Nigeria’s most terrorised region with four of the region’s seven states among the top five states with the highest number of kidnap incidents between July 2023 and June 2024.

Zamfara, Katsina and Kaduna recorded the highest numbers, with Sokoto coming fifth behind Abuja in fourth, according to the report by SBM Intelligence, a market intelligence, security analysis and strategic consulting firm. The presidential directive is part of an intensified effort to rid the North-west of the menace of banditry, kidnapping and terrorism. Matawalle certainly needs no distraction to carry out his onerous responsibilities.

Governor Lawal’s attack on Matawalle in this connection essentially questions President Tinubu’s wisdom in choosing Sokoto as the jump-off point in confronting insecurity in the North-west zone. That both the president and Governor Lawal come from different political parties doesn’t excuse this unstatesmanlike vituperation.

Clearly, it’s very unwise playing politics with insecurity because it could consume everyone. Some observers point to the fact that Governor Lawal’s diversionary attacks on Matawalle is because he may actually pose a potent threat in the former reelection ambition in the next election cycle. But then, there should be a time for politics and time for governance. The governor clearly needs to stop going to TV stations and where he mounts shrill attacks on Dr. Matawalle.

The emerging multipartisan consensus in Zamfara State is that the ongoing political rivalry is negatively impacting the state, governance wise. Unfortunately, a strong perception is also emerging that Governor Dauda Lawal has developed the habit of witch-hunting his predecessors, rather than concentrating on developing the state.

Many Zamfara folks are now insisting that the governor needs to concentrate more on developing the state and fighting against banditry rather than castigating his predecessors. Observers note that the ongoing feud between the governor and the defence minister has clearly exacerbated the political and security challenges facing Zamfara State.

At a deeper level, it would appear that the political drama surrounding their ‘rivalry’ underscores the complex dynamics at play in the state’s governance, and the urgent need for focused leadership to tackle the persistent problems of banditry and underdevelopment in that subnational enclave.

Another dimension in Governor Lawal’s war against Dr. Matawalle popped up when the governor curiously alleged that the defence minister is involved in the insecurity in the state. This was clearly crossing the line and Matawalle would have none of that.

Not a frivolous fellow to trifle with, Matawalle immediately demanded for a religious oath by Governor Dauda in the face of the governor’s spurious allegations that Matawalle is involved with banditry in the state. Matawalle challenged the governor to swear with the Holy Quran to prove his innocence regarding accusations of involvement in banditry. Governor Dauda has backed down from this challenge.

According to Matawalle, “I was the only governor to swear on the Holy Quran that I have no hand in banditry. I challenged all politicians, including Dauda Lawal, to do the same. None of them could take the oath, and if they don’t take the oath, that means they are part of it.” There is more.

Also responding to the unfounded claims by Governor Dauda that Matawalle, as governor, embezzled N240 billion, the current Minister of State for Defence dismissed it as “absurd,” explaining that the total funds available to his administration over his four-year term were significantly less.

He remarked, “If I say the person who said it is crazy, I know you are not crazy. During my four years as governor, I didn’t even receive that amount of money.” Matawalle suggested that the accusation might be rooted in a failed contract involving Lawal himself from his time as governor.

For Governor Lawal, it is one week, one allegation. But significantly, they all turn out to be unfounded. Tired of the unending shenanigans of Governor Lawal, another former governor of the state, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, and a group known as Zamfara Elders Support for Peace and Development, urged the governor to shift his focus from attacking Matawalle to instead concentrate on effective governance and addressing the state’s security issues.

Senator Yari advised Lawal to emulate his predecessors, including Matawalle, who all faced the security challenges in Zamfara and did their best to address them. This stance surprised many observers of Zamfara politics, particularly given the historical animosity between Yari and Matawalle.

Since taking charge of Mr. President’s recent specific responsibility, Dr. Matawalle has assured the people of Sokoto, Katsina, Zamfara and Kebbi states and the entire North-west region that the security forces would leave no stone unturned in flushing out the bandits.

His words: “I will be on ground in the North-west with the CDS and other military chiefs, leading our brave men and women in uniform. I also call on residents of these states to remain vigilant and cooperate with the security forces as the federal government has resolved to protect the lives and properties of all Nigerians. The security and well-being of the people remain the government’s top priority.”

Today, Matawalle is covering considerable grounds in overseeing the fight against insecurity in the country. Despite all the contrived attacks, he is standing firm.

Dr. Matawalle covets knowledge-driven innovations, proactive engagement with stakeholders, relevant institutions, policy makers and more importantly, sure-footed action. These dimensions have been boldly mirrored in his leadership of the defence ministry despite the overarching challenges.

For the Zamfara State governor, Dauda Lawal, it would be best to stop gaming Zamfara and prioritise transformative governance.