By Ojimaojo Zakariya
The Zamfara Youth Concerned Citizens (ZYCC) has accused Governor Dauda Lawal of launching politically motivated attacks on Minister of State for Defence Bello Matawalle, dismissing the governor’s recent allegations as baseless and fabricated.
In an interview with Arise News, presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga clarified that President Bola Tinubu kept Matawalle in office after an investigation led by the Office of the National Security Adviser found the banditry accusations against the minister were unsubstantiated and politically motivated.
Governor Lawal, through his Chief Press Secretary Sulaiman Idris, asserted that Matawalle’s influence within the Federal Government has shielded him from scrutiny.
However, on Monday, ZYCC Coordinator Muhammad Kabiru Tsafe responded, claiming Lawal’s criticism stemmed from fear of Matawalle’s political influence ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Instead of addressing the needs of Zamfara’s citizens, Governor Lawal has focused on a campaign against Minister Matawalle to distract from his administration’s shortcomings,” Tsafe stated.
He added that federal investigations had conclusively debunked Lawal’s claims, labeling them as “a political ploy” that undermines efforts to ensure national security.
ZYCC further condemned Lawal’s actions, saying, “It is disappointing that the governor resorts to undermining credible officials focused on national security.
Minister Matawalle remains committed to peace and stability, and it is unfortunate that these efforts are vilified for political gain.”
The youth group urged Zamfara’s leadership to prioritize development and security over what they called “frivolous accusations and political theatrics.”
ZYCC concluded by asserting that Lawal’s repeated tactics, including organizing protests and promoting “false narratives,” reveal an inability to address pressing issues in Zamfara.
The group emphasized the importance of cooperation between federal and state leaders to advance national goals, warning that divisive approaches would ultimately fail to resonate with Zamfara’s citizens.