By Ifeanyichukwu Marcus
(SINL NIGERIA) Zamfara State government has condemned the claim by the former commissioner of information during Governor Bello Matawalle’s administration, Ibrahim Dosara that the immediate passed Governor left N42billion in the State government’s coffer.
According to a statement issued by the Director General, press Affairs, Government House, Nuhu Anka said Dosara lied that Matawalle left huge funds for the state.
Anka, was reacting to a press conference held by Dosara recently where said former governor Matawalle reportedly left N42 billion in office for his predecessor.
Anka also stated that Dosara said that there was also N2.6 billion accresals, Word bank funds, N6.3 UBE grants and N2.7 billion NGcares World bank funds investment, totalling N42 billion to his successor, Dauda Lawal.
“These figures Dosara mentioned did not reflect in the hand over documents Governor Dauda Lawal received”, he added.
“I would have ignored Dosara’s blunders and leave the matter to the people of the State to judge, particularly the civil servants who were denied payment of their three months salaries and the former Governor’s aides who did not collect their severance allowance due to cash crunch, during Matawalle’s administration, but I find it very imperative to react in order to put the records straight.
“During the Arise TV interview, Governor Dauda Lawal came out clearly and informed the whole world that his predecessor, Bello Mohammed Matawalle left only four Million Naira in the government’s coffers which Ibrahim Dosara was trying to dispute during the press conference, calling it “a blatant lie”
“If the above amount was in the government’s coffers during Matawalle’s administration, then one would have asked Dosara to explain why his paymaster refused to settle the three months salaries of the civil servants and also denied his aides their severance allowance”
“Infact, the former Governor had seriously mismanaged the State government’s resources on White-elephant’s projects and did not leave any legacy worthy of commendation throughout the state. He left huge debts, while the State went bankrupt during his tenure”
“In just few months, Governor Dauda Lawal used his vast experience as an economist to rebuild the State’s already bastardized economy”
“He was able to pay the three months salaries of the State civil servants and has also implemented the N30,000 minimum wage which the previous administrations refused to implement. He has also implemented the recent N70,000 national minimum wage”
“Dosara has already mentioned that, former Governor Bello Mattawalle was not able to pay the civil servants their three months salaries because the banks refused to give him loans on the orders of Dauda Lawal before he took over the mantle of leadership”
Again, I want to remind Dosara that, his paymaster is the Minister of Defence whose responsibility it is to ensure the protection of lives and properties of the people of the country”
“It is a shame for you to challenge Governor Dauda Lawal on security issue despite the fact that he is doing well more than his predecessor. Ask your paymaster to tell us the efforts he has been doing to secure his home State and the entire country”
“I want to advise Dosara and his paymaster to stop wasting their time as there is no amount of blackmail and campaign of calumny that could deter Governor Dauda Lawal from executing the people oriented projects”.
