A group, Zamfara Initiative for Good Governance, has demanded the publication of federal allocations and internally generated revenue to ensure credibility and transparency from Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State as he marks one year in office.
It also urged Lawal to take governance seriously, emphasizing that he is accountable not only to the people but also to God.
The Chairman of the initiative, Hon. Lawal Usman Mohammed, spoke in a statement shared with journalists on Tuesday.
He alleged that Governor Dauda has not fulfilled his promises to the people of the state, especially in the areas of security, agriculture, health, and youth and women empowerment.
“Governor Lawal is overwhelmed by the burden of leadership and adopts a trial-and-error style of governance that has caused enormous hardship for the people and wasted scarce resources,” he said.
“During his campaign for governor, Lawal promised to provide security in the state within his first 100 days in office. One year later, Zamfara State is under siege by armed bandits who daily terrorize the 14 Local Government Areas of the state, including Gusau, the state capital.
“They engage in kidnapping for ransom, killings, cattle rustling, rape, and the imposition of levies and taxes before farmers can cultivate their lands.
“This has resulted in the displacement of citizens from their communities and the destruction of property,” the CAO said.
“It further noted that the number of people kidnapped, killed, and displaced from their ancestral homes in one year surpasses those affected in the past 12 years of banditry in Zamfara State.
“The fight against banditry is being carried out with kid gloves as the governor has not funded and equipped the Community Protection Guards he inaugurated a few months ago, rendering them redundant.
*Adequate logistics are also not provided to security agencies in the state to crush these criminal elements in synergy with the Federal Government.
“Sadly, Zamfara State has become the headquarters of bandits, resulting in hunger and poverty as people cannot access their farmlands and carry out commercial activities.
“This situation negates Section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended, which provides that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government,” the statement said.
“The reign of terror in the state must stop. The good people of Zamfara State desire and deserve a new lease on life, security, prosperity, and development.
“As a pro-democracy group in the quest for good governance, transparency, and accountability by elected public officers in Zamfara State, we demand the publication of the Federal allocation and Local Government funds received in one year by Dauda Lawal’s government.
“This will promote integrity, accountability, honesty, transparency, and confidence in running the affairs of the state for the good of the people.
“As patriotic citizens, we must hold elected public officers accountable as power resides in the people,” the statement added.
