The leadership of the Arewa Youths Consultative Forum (AYCF) in reaction to recent comments and demands made by Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal regarding the resignation of the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Mohammed Matawalle.
AYCF in a statement issued by it's President General Yerima Shettima said, "it is with utmost urgency and seriousness that we unequivocally state that it is not Minister Matawalle who should resign, but rather Governor Dauda Lawal himself, given the alarming evidence that has emerged of his involvement in financing terror groups operating within the region.
In a recently circulated document titled *RE-NORTH-WESTERN GOVERNORS/UN-ORGANIZED SECURITY SUMMIT IN KATSINA*, the intricate ties between Governor Lawal and criminal enterprises are laid bare. Within this document, a request is made for the staggering sum of One Billion, Three Hundred and Seventy-Eight Million Naira to be allocated for a dubious state government reconciliation programme with notorious bandit leaders.
The group said, "This initiative raises serious ethical and legal concerns, especially considering that the funds were earmarked for distribution to high-profile bandit leaders including Bello Turji, Dogo Gide, Ado Aliero, Halilu Sububu, and Gwaska Dan Karami, along with payoffs to certain media houses and influencers. Such transactions indicate a deep-seated complicity with the very elements who have wreaked havoc and fear throughout our communities.
"Moreover, the recent actions and escalating desperation displayed by Governor Lawal seem to directly correlate with the significant setbacks he has experienced in his attempts to navigate the security crisis. Following the arrest of his former aide, Bashir Hadejiya, on serious charges of gun running and international criminal conspiracy, Lawal appears to have adopted a defensive position.
"Additionally, the elimination of bandit leader Halilu Sububu and the diminishing power of criminal factions, attributed to the steadfast efforts of Minister Matawalle and the armed forces, have further exacerbated his unease.
"Governor Lawal's calls for Matawalle's resignation reflect not only a diversionary tactic but also a grave misunderstanding of the dire circumstances we face as a region. It is clear that the ongoing ‘fresh onslaught’ by Minister Matawalle has yielded palpable results in the battle against banditry, thereby weakening the affiliates of criminality that Governor Lawal appears to be shielding.
"If we are to capitalize on the successes that have been achieved under Minister Matawalle's stewardship, we must demand that Governor Lawal steps down. His tenure has fostered an environment where governance and criminality appear to overlap dangerously.
"In light of the evidence against Governor Dauda Lawal and the implications it bears for our collective security, the AYCF is calling for the immediate resignation of the Governor. Should he fail to resign voluntarily, we advocate for the declaration of a total state of emergency in Zamfara State, which would entail the removal of Governor Lawal and the appointment of a military sole administrator. Such a measure is essential to restore order and address the deteriorating security situation through the proven methodologies employed by Minister Bello Mohammed Matawalle".
AYCF averred that the people of Zamfara and the broader region deserve governance that prioritizes their safety and well-being, adding that we cannot afford to maintain leaders whose interests seem to align more closely with criminals than with their constituents. "The time for decisive action is now" the forum stressed..
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