Irregularities, scandals, misappropriation of funds take center stage in Gov. Dauda Lawal’s Administration

By Abubakar Liman, Gusau

Following widespread outcry by citizens of Zamfara on what they call reckless misappropriation of state resources by Governor Dauda Lawal, his state officials and local government administration handlers who are chiefly in the business of diversion of local government allocations into personal advantages, the government has taken a step which many have noted as a cover-up move.

It is worthy of note that the good governance assessment tour conducted by the on-the-spot assessment unit of Emerging Leaders Forum of Nigeria (ELFON) reported a high level of insecurity and lack of basic infrastructure in all 14 Local Governments of Zamfara state in the last 24 months, despite the consistent flow of allocations from the coffers of the federal government.

Opinion molders have mentioned Zamfara state Commissioner for Finance and his counterpart in Ministry For Local Government Affairs and Works, State Accountant-General and Secretary to the State Government as officials used by Governor Lawal to drain the state of its resources which he they should have been used to fight insecurity, poverty and other deficits of governance in the State.

As the complaint of misappropriation continues to reign supreme in all quarters and streets, villages and towns of Zamfara state, the State Government in a cover-up display has forced three Directors into retirement and suspended others.

Prominent amongst those affected are the Director of Finance and Account, Sani Muhammad Jangeru; the Director of Administration, Usman Abubakar Maradun; and the Director of Planning, Research & Statistics, Garba S. Yamma.

While Governor Dauda and his key state officials are living extravagant, lavishing and exotic lifestyles, Zamfaraites are living in fear of insecurity, Hardship and infrastructural decay.