Matawalle donates N500m to Zamfara APC supporters

Former governor and Minister of State for Defence, Alhaji Bello Matawalle has donated N500 million to supporters of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara. The Special Adviser to the Minister on Political Matters, Alhaji Ibrahim Danmaliki made the disclosure at a news briefing on Friday in Gusau. Danmaliki said a total of 2,800 APC supporters and beneficiaries drawn from the 14 Local Government Areas of the state received N100,000 each. He added that 114 political office holders from six local government area of Maradun, Bakura, Talata Mafara, Anka, Bukkuyum and Gummi received N250,000 each. READ ALSO: Amid Natasha controversy, senate reaffirms confidence in Akpabio Media reports indicate that the six benefiting council areas form Zamfara West, are from the minister’s senatorial zone. Danmaliki said that 80 beneficiaries were also selected from the rest of the area councils including Shinkafi, Birnin-Magaji, Kaura-Namoda, Maru, Zurmi, Tsafe, Gusau and Bungudu. According to him, the beneficiaries also included the vulnerable, women, youths and the physically challenged. He said the minister made the package cash to compliment the gesture of other party chieftains that shared food items and clothing materials. He said the cash would assist beneficiaries meet other obligations in terms of purchases during the holy month of Ramadan.

Alleged Banditry: Zamfara rights activist drags AGF, IGP to court

…seeks probe of ex- Gov Matawalle A Zamfara State based human rights activist, Abubakar Dahiru, has filed a suit at the Federal High Court Abuja, seeking the investigation of a former Governor of the State and current Minister of State (Defence), Bello Matawalle, in relation to allegations of kidnappings, Banditry etc. Defendants in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1434/2024, filed on behalf of the plaintiff by Ojonimi Apeh Esq. are, the President, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, and the Inspector General of Police. Specifically, Ojonimi Apeh, in the suit filed and dated September 27, 2024, wants the court to declare that “it is imperative for the 1st Defendant herein to give directions to the 3rd Defendant to investigate the activities of bandits and kidnappers in Zamfara State and in particular the allegations surrounding the Minister of State for Defence, Hon. Bello Matawalle in relation to banditry and kidnapping in Zamfara State with a view to securing and/or restoring public safety in Zamfara State. Ojonimi Apeh also prayed on behalf of his client for “An order of Court mandating the 1st Defendant herein to direct the 3rd Defendant herein to investigate the activities of bandits and kidnappers in Zamfara State, and in particular the allegations surrounding the Minister of State, Defence Hon. Bello Matawalle in relation to banditry and kidnapping in Zamfara State with a view to securing and/or restoring public safety in Zamfara State. “A declaration that by the provisions of Section 215(3) and (4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, and other relevant laws, the 1st Defendant herein either by himself or through such other Minister of the government of the Federation as he may authorize can give directions to the 3rd Defendant herein with respect to the maintenance and securing of public safety and public order in any part of the Federation” Apeh submitted. In a 22-paragraph statement of claim, the plaintiff avered that there is presently high wave of armed banditry and kidnapping in Zamfara State just like other parts of North Western Nigeria, adding that the activities of these hoodlums, “which started like a mustard seed in Zamfara State grew to an alarming and unprecedented proportion during the period between 2019 and 2023 when Hon. Bello Matawalle was the Governor of Zamfara State”. “The Plaintiff avers that armed banditry and kidnapping have rendered thousands of the people of Zamfara orphans, widows, widowers, homeless, hungry, etc due to the activities of criminals who maim people, extort their monies, kill their loved ones and subject them to all manner of physical and emotional torture. “The Plaintiff avers that he recently listened to the interview of Governor Dauda Lawal on TVC Television on 18th September 2024, wherein he publicly accused Hon. Bello Matawalle of involvement with kidnappers and bandits in Zamfara State. “The Plaintiff avers that he has also read an online publication by Umoru Faruk Salifu in the 21st Century Chronicles online Newspaper of 22nd September 2024, where he accused Hon. Bello Matawalle of sponsoring bandits, buying vehicles for bandits, sabotaging efforts of law enforcement agents to curb banditry and kidnapping in North Western Nigeria, granting amnesty to terrorists, etc. “The Plaintiff avers that he also read an article by Professor Abdussamad Umar Jibia wherein he chronicled series of allegations of Hon. Bello Matawalle’s involvement with banditry and kidnappings in Zamfara State. Among other claims, “The Plaintiff avers that despite the open allegations as to the involvement of Hon. Bello Matawalle with banditry and kidnapping in Zamfara State, no efforts have been made by government to investigate him with a view to coming out with the truth or falsity of these allegations while the spate of banditry and kidnapping continue to reign in Zamfara State to the detriment of citizens” Ojonimi Apeh’s client stated. Meanwhile, the matter is yet to be assigned to a Judge.

#EndBadGovernance: Please Protect Our Lives And Properties – APC Begs Security Operatives

APC Begs Security Operatives As Protesters Target Matawalle’s Residence

Matawalle Drained Zamfara State’s Resources Within 4 Years – Commissioner

The Zamfara State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Abdulmalik Gajam, has accused the immediate former governor of the state, Bello Matawalle, of misappropriating the state’s resources during his tenure. In a video interview, Gajam highlighted significant neglect in essential sectors such as water, health, education, and the economy under Matawalle’s leadership but said that Matawalle, who is now the Minister of State Defence, spent as much as N50 million on massage chairs Gajam referenced statistics from Analysts Data Services and Resources (ADSR), indicating Zamfara State ranked poorly among other Nigerian states. According to the data, Zamfara fared poorly in economic output, importation, business competition, industrialization, healthcare, education, and ICT, ranking at or near the bottom across these sectors. “We met Zamfara State in security crisis. When we talk about economic output, Zamfara is 32 out of 37. Importation, Zamfara is 32 out of 37, business competition and industrialization, Zamfara is 35 over 37. “When we talk about healthcare, Zamfara is 26 out of 37, when we talk about education, Zamfara is 30 out of 37. When we talk about ICT, Zamfara is 34. This is based on the statistics that were done by ADSR, the scorecard of the Nigerian states. “Overall, the average mark was 45 but Zamfara State was under 40. We were 36 over 37. That means we are last, we’re taking the Z status,” Mr Gajam said. He said that the state is facing a debt servicing burden of over N30 billion, and the current administration has paid over N20 billion to date. Furthermore, Gajam accused Matawalle’s administration of mishandling funds intended for healthcare services, resulting in a lack of equipment, manpower, planning, and policy in primary healthcare centres. Mr Gajam accused Mr Matawalle’s administration of misappropriating money meant for healthcare services in the state. “There is nothing to show in healthcare. Even those primary healthcare centres when you go around now you can’t even take animals into those structures. You built a primary healthcare centre with World Bank money and did substandard work. At the end of the day, there is no equipment, no manpower, there is no planning and no policy. “We still have emergencies in Mafara Local Government, in Anka Local Government, children are dying of cholera. “We don’t have a functioning education system. What will amaze you is the idea that the past administration spent three years without paying for WAEC or NECO for our students. “The past administration spent more than 15 billion in naira in the Government House alone and now if you go to Zamfara State there is no government office that’s functioning; we’re even renovating them. They bought massage chairs of 50 – 50 million naira when people were hungry, when they were dying of insecurity and illiteracy and malnutrition,” he said. The commissioner said Mr Matawalle also failed to construct roads. He said the former governor didn’t build any road as long as five kilometres in the four years he was in office.” “The legacy the past governor left: he bought Hilux vehicles and dashed them away to bandits. The evidence is there. He was giving asylum to bandits in the Government House. People that killed…even in the barbaric era, there had never been a time where an Emir or a king would give asylum to somebody that kills people,” Mr Gajam added. He highlighted the previous government’s failure to pay for WAEC or NECO examinations for students, spending over N15 billion in the Government House while essential government offices remained non-functional and under renovation. Additionally, Gajam criticized the lack of road construction during Matawalle’s tenure, emphasizing that the former governor failed to build any road exceeding five kilometers. Gajam also alleged that the previous governor purchased Hilux vehicles and gave them to bandits, providing asylum to individuals involved in criminal activities. These allegations depict a state of disarray and mismanagement during Matawalle’s governance, creating a situation where essential public services were severely neglected while financial resources were reportedly misused.

Zamfara: Matawalle Accuses Successor, Gov Dauda Lawal Of Governance Incompetence

The immediate past governor of Zamfara state and also the Minister of State for Defence, Alhaji Bello Matawalle, has criticized his successor, Governor Dauda Lawal, and his commissioners for their lack of fundamental understanding of governance. Alhaji Matawalle responded to allegations by the Governor Dauda-led administration, which claimed that misleading documents were published showing that “former Governor and Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, approved 100% payment of over N1 billion for fencing, landscaping, and furnishing of Governor’s lodges in 14 Local Government Areas, even before the project began.” In a statement released in Abuja, through the coordinator of his media office, Alhaji Ibrahim Dosara, Matawalle asserted that Governor Lawal should focus on governance and the protection and security of Zamfara residents, rather than engaging in a fault-finding mission to mislead the general public with false publications. Dosara stated, “It is very disheartening that a government led by a “(Dr)” and managed by Consultant Professors consistently engages in perjury in an attempt to indict and tarnish the hard-earned reputation of a man who has demonstrated his worth and integrity to the general public, receiving various merit awards and honours from different quarters.”