The Zamfara Youth Vanguard for Peace, has called on the Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, to resign for allegedly being found complicit in terrorism financing in the State.
The Youth Vanguard made the call in a statement in Abuja on Thursday, by its President, Mustapha Waziri Mohammed, urging the Governor to immediately resign.
The statement reads: “The Zamfara Youth Vanguard noted with satisfaction the prescription by the Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, that resigning was the right thing for him to do after being found complicit in terrorism financing and enabling bandits to undermine the security of Nigeria. The governor must, therefore, immediately resign if he is still capable of any honour.
“This note is in response to Governor Lawal’s admission during an appearance on Television Continental that he recognised the need to step aside upon being culpable of associating with bandits and terrorists. Governor Lawal’s assertion during the television interview should be taken within the context of the revelation that he paid the sum of One Billion, Three Hundred and Seventy-Eight Million Naira (N1,378, 000,000) to terrorists, bandits and other subversive elements.
“We had noted in the past how Governor Lawal’s enabling of these terrorists has facilitated weapon purchases for them and resulted in spikes in abductions as well as a rolling back of the progress made in fighting the terrorists by the previous administration.
“No person who has caused this magnitude of hurt to citizens of a state and untold security breaches to the country should continue to hold office irrespective of the immunity the constitution bestows on them.
“Governor Lawal wasted his television appearance, which he should have used to announce his resignation over his confirmed facilitation of bandits as he opted to play to the gallery instead of taking steps that were consistent with what he prescribed. Instead, he sought to burden others with crimes for which he was responsible. This behaviour is utterly irresponsible and is a confirmation of his incapacity to lead the state.
“We have since found out that Governor Lawal’s appearance on the television programme was at the instance of the bandits in the bushes, who are being suffocated by the military action ordered against them by the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, following his recent visit to Sokoto state during which he bolstered troops’ morale.
“Governor Lawal, with his bandits and associates, are reported to have become desperate because of their sustained decimation and killing by the Armed Forces.
“The Zamfara Youth Vanguard cautions Governor Lawal in clear terms not to release any further funds from the state’s coffers to his associate as we have learnt that he has finalised plans to credit the bandits’ and subversives’ bank accounts as part of the third quarter 2024 payment and support to re-arm those that have fled the military operation in disarray.
“We appeal to Minister Matawalle to urge troops to intensify the ongoing campaign against the bandits and to pursue them anywhere they flee to including inside the Zamfara State Government House, where Governor Lawal is suspected to be hiding the most senior ones among them.”
