June 3, 2023

The Zamfara State Government has described a statement issued by the State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as an act of attention-seeking from a political party yet to recover from defeat.

The APC statement was a response to the assertion of the Executive Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, in which he fingered former Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle as looting official vehicles and other valuables from the state Government House in Gusau.

The Zamfara State Government in a statement issued in Gusau on Saturday, by the spokesperson to the Governor, Sulaiman Bala Idris, noted that the vituperation by the Zamfara APC in a desperate and face-saving defence of the looting orchestrated by former Governor Matawalle was a further confirmation that the party has drifted into the abyss of confusion and failure.

The statement read in parts: “Our government is determined to fulfil the campaign promises made to the good people of Zamfara State, which involves the swift recovery of public funds and properties looted.

“The mischievous APC statement is only aimed at distracting us from doing the work that positively touches the lives of the people. Our time is precious, and we cannot waste it in engaging or bandying words with a political party that spent four years without a single project beneficial to the people of Zamfara, instead their only achievement is massive looting of the state’s treasury.

“We have the facts and records available that exposed Matawalle’s impropriety. Where is the lie? A contract was awarded by the former governor, for the purchase of vehicles to be distributed to dignitaries and other ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) at the cost of One Billion, One Hundred and Forty-Nine, Eight Hundred Million Naira (N1,149,800,000.00).

“The contract for the purchase of the vehicles was awarded to Hafkhad Properties and Facilities Management Nig. LTD. The money was meant for the purchase of a Toyota Lexus VIP Bullet Proof 2021 Model; Toyota Land Cruiser VIP Bullet Proof 2021 Model; Toyota Prado V6 2021 Model; Toyota Prado V4 2021 Model; Peugeot 2021 Model; Toyota Hilux 2021 Model; Toyota Land Cruiser Bullet Proof 2021; and Toyota Lexus 2021 Model.

“On the 4th of October 2021 the former governor paid MUSACO for the supply of three bulletproof Jeep at the sum of N484, 512, 500.00; to supply seven sets of bulletproof Prado Jeep, and Land Cruiser at the sum of N459, 995, 000.00; to supply seven Toyota Hilux at the sum of N228, 830, 000.00.

“On the 19th of May 2021, Matawalle paid for the supply of 30 sets of Peugeot 406 to TK Global Services at the sum of N61,200,000.00. Also, on the 15th of December 2021, Nadeen Butta was paid for the supply of one bulletproof Land Cruiser in the sum of N130, 000, 000.00.

“On 26th of February 2022, a contractor Dapiyau B. Linus was paid the sum of N160,000,000.00 for the supply of two Land Cruiser Jeeps 2021 model; On the 20th of March 2022, Matawalle government paid MUSACO the sum of N120,000,000.00 for the supply of three vehicles for the office of the Deputy Governor.”

“It is the height of indignity for the Zamfara APC to continue to fizzle at a time when all the above official vehicles were looted by the outgone governor and his associates. None of the vehicles is available in the government house.

This is a show of shame, not only to the state chapter of the APC but to anyone justifying the action of Matawalle.

“We have communicated officially to former Governor Bello Matawalle and his deputy to return all the missing vehicles within five (5) working days.”