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Group Pressures Governor Dauda to Justify 12bn Security Expenditure in Two Weeks
A coalition of concerned citizens in Zamfara State, operating under the banner of Zamfara Concerned Citizens (ZCC), has issued a two-week ultimatum to Governor Dauda Lawal, demanding a full account of the reported 12 billion naira his administration has spent on tackling insecurity from January 2024 to date.
In a statement released by ZCC coordinator Yusuf Muhammad Gusau, the group called on Governor Lawal to provide a detailed and verifiable breakdown of the funds allocated over the past year.
This call for transparency arises amid widespread frustration over ongoing violence, abductions, and insecurity, with citizens claiming there has been no visible improvement in the state’s security situation.
The statement asserted that the people of Zamfara have seen little justification for such a substantial expenditure.
Gusau emphasised, “The people of Zamfara, who continue to suffer from poverty, lack of adequate public services, and ongoing security threats, deserve clear answers.”
The ZCC contends that the administration’s priorities appear misaligned, highlighting grievances over the continued lack of resources in essential sectors such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure.
Gusau criticised recent state expenditures on luxury vehicles, questioning the commitment of Lawal’s administration to the welfare of ordinary citizens.
“Our communities continue to grapple with the daily threat of violence,” the statement continued, “and it is deeply troubling that such a significant amount of public funds—allocated with the purpose of securing our lives—appears to have been spent without any meaningful impact.”
The ZCC reaffirmed its stance on government accountability, warning that Zamfara’s citizens will not tolerate the perceived mismanagement of public funds.
The group stressed the importance of Governor Lawal’s compliance with this ultimatum, describing it not only as a matter of financial transparency but as a critical step towards restoring public trust in the administration’s commitment to the welfare and safety of its citizens.
General Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff, has assured that all security challenges facing the nation will be effectively addressed by the year’s end.
This statement was made during the launch of attack drones and the demonstration of locally produced bombs, developed by a homegrown technology firm.
The event was attended by security specialists and senior government officials, as General Musa showcased the indigenous Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to the audience.
Accompanied by Ajao Adewale, the Federal Capital Territory Commissioner of Police, and Caleb Mutfwang, the Governor of Plateau State, General Musa emphasized the ongoing bureaucratic obstacles in acquiring military equipment from abroad.
Governor Mutfwang stressed the urgency for decisive measures against insecurity, calling on leaders to prevent any entity within the nation from possessing military capabilities.
The operational features of the UAVs were also demonstrated, with General Musa expressing satisfaction with this advancement, labeling it a pivotal step in combating insecurity in the country.
The Supreme Court has set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Abuja recognising Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP).
In a unanimous judgment on Friday, a five-member panel of the apex court held that the Court of Appeal lacked the jurisdiction to have pronounced Abure National Chairman of the LP having earlier found that the substance of the case was about the party’s leadership.
It held that issue of leadership was internal affair of a party over which courts lacked jurisdiction.
The court allowed the appeal filed by Senator Ester Nenadi Usman and one other and held that it was meritorious.
It proceeded to dismiss the cross-appeal filed by the Abure faction of the LP got being unmeritorious.
Details shortly…
Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, special adviser on political matters to Vice-President Kashim Shettima, has resigned from his position, According to Daily Trust.
The newspaper quoted sources as saying that the former spokesperson of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) resigned two weeks ago.
President Bola Tinubu appointed Baba-Ahmed as special adviser on political matters to Shettima in September 2023.
Baba-Ahmed is the elder sibling of Datti Baba-Ahmed, vice-presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election.
Baba-Ahmed served as chief of staff to Bukola Saraki, former senate president, from 2017-2019.
CONFRONTATION WITH MATAWALLE OVER NEF
In April 2024, Bello Matawalle, minister of state for defence, described the NEF as a “political paperweight” after the group stated that the north made a mistake voting Tinubu in 2023.
In his reaction to Matawalle’s remarks, Baba-Ahmed said it would have served the Tinubu administration better if Matawalle had listed his achievements as minister — and the achievements of the other northern appointees — instead of attacking NEF.
“Scathing criticism of NEF by a junior minister of defence, Matawalle, is ill-advised. He could have done a better job for this admin if he identified contributions of especially northern ministers and other appointees like me to improving security and reducing poverty in the North,” Baba-Ahmed said.
In a riposte, the minister said any appointee must defend and promote the administration they work for.
“Dr. Baba-Ahmed’s relationship and affinity with Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF) is well-known,” Matawalle said.
“The fact now is that he is an appointee of the administration as Special Adviser and it is incumbent on him to work for the success of the government he is part of, protect and defend the government against unjust and vicious attacks from those who hide under ethnic and other primordial interests to heat up the polity for myopic reasons.
“It is pertinent to state that every appointee of President Tinubu including Dr. Baba-Ahmed owes the government a copious duty to promote, elucidate and advance the good works and commendable efforts of the government across all sectors.”
He added that northern appointees must defend the government or take their exit.
Matawalle is a native of Zamfara while Baba-Ahmed hails from Kaduna.