Supporters of the All Progressives Congress in Zamfara State have launched a fierce rebuttal against what they described as “a cowardly attempt to distort history” by the state government under Governor Dauda Lawal Dare.
In a statement signed by the group’s secretary, Kabiru Ibrahim Gusau, the supporters said the governor’s recent publication, “Zamfara Will Never Return to the Era of Failure and Deception,” was nothing more than “a smokescreen to hide Dauda Lawal’s failure, corruption, and lack of leadership vision.”
The group accused the governor of trying to discredit the achievements of former Governor and current Minister of State for Defence, Bello Mohammed Matawalle , insisting that “no amount of sponsored lies can erase Matawalle’s record.”
According to the statement, Matawalle had proven his worth through active engagement in national security coordination and concrete actions that have yielded results in the fight against banditry.
“While Dauda Lawal sits in Gusau issuing empty statements, Matawalle is in the field coordinating real operations that bring results,” the group said.
He said contrary to Dauda Lawal’s malicious claim, Matawalle never abandoned Zamfara. As Minister of State for Defence, he has been actively engaged in national-level security coordination—work that directly benefits Zamfara and the entire North West.
While he works to strengthen the nation’s security architecture, Dauda Lawal hides behind media headlines, issuing hollow statements as bandit attacks increase under his watch. If leadership means action, then Matawalle has served more in one year at the national level than Dauda Lawal has in eighteen months of failure.
Dauda Lawal’s claim that Matawalle’s era was filled with betrayal and destruction is a lie told in panic.
“During Matawalle’s tenure,200 brand new operational vehicles were distributed to all security agencies.850 additional special police officers were deployed to complement the existing forces. Operation Puff Adder I & II were launched to combat banditry.
“Over 1,218 kidnapped victims were rescued, including 279 Jangebe schoolgirls,over 10,000 rustled cattle were recovered and returned to their rightful owners.
“If that is failure, then what exactly do we call Dauda Lawal’s tenure, where even Gusau is unsafe and security remains a distant dream?
While speaking on civil service and welfare,he said His excellency ,Dr Bello Muhammad Matawalle restored dignity in Zamfara State.
According to him,”The claim that Matawalle left behind unpaid workers is another falsehood. His government,refunded ₦932 million in unremitted pension funds.reinstated 1,600 unpaid staff and teachers,released ₦100 million monthly to settle backlog gratuities.,approved the construction of 2,500 housing units for civil servants.”
If Dauda Lawal is now boasting about paying salaries, he should first appreciate Matawalle for laying the financial foundation that made it possible.
” Hospitals, Schools, and Infrastructure Were Not Neglected — They Were Rebuilt
Under Matawalle, Zamfara witnessed visible progress in health and education,147 primary healthcare centres were constructed across all 147 wards.
” 17 ambulances and 200 rickshaw ambulances were distributed to improve medical response,14 Women and Children Hospitals were built and equipped, 900 classrooms were constructed and 375 renovated, alongside ₦5.5 billion in UBEC grants released for basic education.
“If Dauda Lawal’s government inherited a collapsed system, then how were these achievements possible? It is not collapse — it is proof of solid groundwork.”
Speaking on the infrastructure,the statement noted that Many of the roads Dauda Lawal now claims as his projects were initiated by Matawalle.
This includes,”Canteen Daji Dual Carriage Road, College of Islamic Science Road, Sokoto Road–Janyau ta Gabas Road, and Inno Doya Road, among others.
“Most disgracefully, Dauda Lawal re-awarded Matawalle’s ₦11.5 billion Cargo Airport project (60% completed) at a ridiculous ₦60 billion, a move widely condemned as a ploy to loot public funds. If this is what he calls “progress,” then corruption has indeed found a new face in Zamfara.
“Matawalle empowered 8,692 youths with ₦10,000 monthly under the Zamfara Social Intervention Programme (ZASIP) and supported 1,800 women with ₦20,000 each to start small businesses.
“Today, Dauda Lawal offers nothing but empty ceremonies and photo sessions while poverty deepens and unemployment rises.
“Zamfara people know there is no genuine fight against insecurity under Dauda Lawal. His government has no clear strategy, no logistics plan, and no credible local intelligence. Instead, he rides on federal military efforts — many coordinated by Matawalle himself at the Defence Ministry — to claim empty victories on television.
“Zamfara today is not rescued; it is ravaged by deceit and political arrogance. Salaries are delayed, debts have soared, projects are inflated, and insecurity is worse than ever.
The only “rescue” happening is of Dauda Lawal’s image through propaganda and lies paid for with taxpayers’ money.”
The group said no matter how hard he tries, Governor Dauda Lawal cannot erase the record of Bello Mohammed Matawalle, the man who restored hope, rebuilt infrastructure, and brought relative peace when others failed.
“If propaganda could build hospitals, Dauda Lawal would have been the greatest builder in history. But truth endures — and history will not forgive those who trade facts for falsehood.
“Zamfara will indeed never return to failure — because Dauda Lawal Dare’s government is the failure itself.”
