Governor of Zamfara state, Dauda Lawal, has accused his predecessor and current Minister of State for Defence, Bello Mattawalle, of leaving the state’s treasury dry. Lawal who spoke in an interview said when he assumed office, he realized that over ₦250 billion was not accounted for under former Governor Bello Matawalle.
“I want to inform the people of the state that, I met an empty treasury.
“I also inherited huge debts and liabilities amounting to billions of naira.
“I am, therefore, appealing to the people of the state to be more patient and give me your full support and cooperation in this trying period.
“I promised to bring rapid development in the state during my campaign particularly in terms of security, education, job opportunities, health and agriculture.
“I have come to rescue Zamfara State by the grace of God and I will do my best to move the state to greater height.”
“EFCC made a pronouncement sometime around May 21, 2023 or there about that it was alleging that ₦70 billion was stolen. That means before I took over. By the time I took over, I realized that that ₦70 billion they mentioned was a child’s play.”
“So far based on available records, we realized over ₦250 billion was not accounted for. It is very funny. Let me explain to you the state I inherited. I inherited a very dysfunctional state. When I took over there was no ₦4 million in Zamfara State Government account – just empty.
“There was a backlog of salaries for four months. For three years. none of Zamfara indigene wrote either WAEC or NECO. I had to settle ₦1.3 billion for NECO and ₦1.6 billion for WAEC. Some of the students got their certificates after we settled WAEC and NECO,” Lawal said.
The governor also denied reports his government paid ransom to bandits, insisting he would never negotiate with them.
