BY NONYELUM JULIET
Kaduna
Coalition of 65 Arewa Civil Society Organizations has given the governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal 7-day ultimatum to retrace his steps, stating that the governor had committed several infractions
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday in Kaduna, the Convener of the Coalition, Aminu Abbas Arabi accused the governor of turning Zamfara into an open abattoir and cemetery.
He also accused governor Lawal of demarketing his predecessor, adding that it is a distraction from his core mandate.
Arabi advised Lawal to resign if he feels inadequate to perform his dutie as the governor of Zamfara state.
“Instead of showing his scorecard and justifying the billions of naira allocated to Zamfara State since assumption of office, he chose to chase shadows and abandon the task he was elected to perform. This is a pure distraction from his core mandate and we find it not only repulsive but repugnant. It is, therefore, our firm position that his behavior is unbecoming of a sitting Governor, and if he feels inadequate to perform his duties, he should resign with immediate effect”.
“Under his administration, Zamfara has turned into an open abattoir and cemetery of sorts. As the chief security officer of the State, Governor Dauda Lawal has failed to stop the killings. All he does is blame others for his lapses.
“Communities are being sacked and terrorists have gained a foothold in many communities to the extent of collecting taxes and levies from vulnerable indigenes. Less than 72 hours ago, an imam and His son were killed in cold blood. His inability to act should be an embarrassment to everybody who identifies with good governance, and this is the time to tell Dauda the truth – he should either resign or act as a sitting Governor for once”.
“It is sad to note that no investor has pitched a tent in Zamfara because of the widespread insecurity and unfavorable government policies since Dauda Lawal took over the mantle of leadership”.
He urged the governor to intensify the revenue drive, block leakages, and come up with policies that will attract investors to Zamfara State, he said.
“Zamfara has no business with underdevelopment because the State is blessed with resources both physical and human. We insist that the Governor must wake up and go to work like other Governors are doing. He must intensify the revenue drive, block leakages, and come up with policies that will attract investors to Zamfara State”.
“Other states such as Kaduna, Rivers, Lagos, Akwa Ibom, and a lot more have done it, and he can also do it. We are tired of excuses and the blame games that have not taken Zamfara anywhere in the past two years.
“Let it be categorically clear, that the inefficiency of the Governor of Zamfara State has turned the military against the state”.
“Dauda Lawal must take a cue from the Governor of Sokoto State who took power from a PDP Governor but has never come out to criticize his predecessor despite the pockets of insecurity incidences in the State.
“The Sokoto State Governor, who is his next-door neighbor, has remained resolute, consistent, and determined to bring progress to his state. That’s what we expect of Mr. Dauda and not the shenanigans he’s displaying at the moment”.
