The Zamfara Good Governance Forum has taken a swipe at Governor Dauda Lawal Dare, accusing him of reckless leadership and betraying campaign promises amid worsening insecurity in the state.
The outcry follows the governor’s recent remarks admitting that he knows the whereabouts, movements, and hideouts of bandits terrorising communities.
Forum leaders described the admission as “reckless, insensitive, and shameful,” insisting that if the governor truly holds such intelligence, his refusal to act exposes a grave dereliction of duty.
“Protecting lives is his foremost responsibility,” the Forum said. “No excuse is acceptable when citizens are being slaughtered daily.”
Speaking on behalf of the group, Secretary Kabiru Ibrahim Gusau challenged the governor to explain why he has not passed such intelligence to security agencies.
“Instead, he hides behind the claim that he has no control over the military or police, even though his government spends more than ₦3 billion every month on security. Where is this money going?” Gusau asked.
The Forum accused the governor of hypocrisy—quick to celebrate victories credited to security forces, but eager to shift blame when attacks intensify.
They reminded citizens that before the 2023 election, Dauda blamed his predecessor, Bello Matawalle, for insecurity and promised to end banditry within two weeks if elected. More than two years later, they said, villages continue to be attacked, families displaced, and fear entrenched.
Beyond insecurity, the Forum accused the governor of reckless financial mismanagement, citing inflated contracts and wasteful spending.
They pointed to the Zamfara airport project, originally budgeted at ₦11.8 billion under Matawalle and more than 60% completed.
The Forum said Dauda re-awarded it for ₦62.9 billion, later approving ₦30 billion in variations, pushing the total to nearly ₦91 billion.
“This is no longer politics—it is survival,” Gusau declared. “
Zamfara people are under siege. Instead of leading with courage and compassion, Governor Dauda hides behind excuses and propaganda while citizens pay with their blood.”
The group urged citizens to demand accountability and called on anti-corruption agencies, civil society, and federal authorities to probe what they described as reckless spending and governance failures.
“Our people deserve peace, not propaganda. They deserve leadership, not excuses. Governor Dauda must be held accountable,” the statement concluded.