The Zamfara Conscience Movement (ZCM) and the Northern Awareness Network (NAN) have strongly condemned the recent actions of the government of Zamfara State in allegedly inviting known criminal Musa Kamarawa to the Government House in Gusau and engaging him in a sinister partnership with infamous bandit leader, Bello Turji.
The groups averred that such collaboration is aimed at perpetuating false propaganda against the former governor of Zamfara State, Bello Mohammed Matawalle, who currently serves as the minister of state for Defence.
According to a statement issued by the chairman of the ZCM, Tanko Illo Salihu, the unethical, dangerous, and irresponsible tactic will lead to misinformation, confusion, and public backlash, saying such actions are unacceptable and must be resisted.
It said the effort to associate with individuals like Kamarawa and Turji, whose credibility and trustworthiness are severely compromised due to their criminal histories, is ultimately counterproductive.
It said the Zamfara State government risks further tarnishing its own reputation and eroding the trust of the electorate by engaging with these notorious figures as mouthpieces for false propaganda, adding that
it was deeply concerning that Governor Dauda Lawal is prioritizing political attacks on Matawalle while neglecting the pressing security needs of the state.
It said the state remains vulnerable to the actions of dangerous bandits, kidnappers, rapists, and other criminal elements who exploit the apparent lack of political will to challenge them, saying this continuous focus on attacking Matawalle is not only misguided but also detrimental to the safety and well-being of the citizens of Zamfara State.
In a similar statement, NAN chairman Sahabi Lawalli hinted that the recent invitation of Kamarawa to the Government House in Gusau suggests that the visit furthers Governor Lawal’s conspiracy with some disgruntled northern politicians against President Tinubu, targeting the Minister of State for Defence, Matawalle.
The Network warned the governor to shift focus from political disputes to the pressing issue of security in the state, advocating for cooperation with federal efforts to address the root causes of the attacks and implement adequate preventive measures.
Both groups urged Governor Lawal to shift his focus to tackling the real issues affecting his state, primarily the security crisis, rather than engaging in unethical and ineffective tactics that compromise the democratic process.
