The Minister of State for Defence and the immediate past governor of Zamfara, Bello Matawalle, has formally invited Governor Dauda Lawal to join the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The minister made this appeal on Saturday at his residence in Maradun, his hometown, while receiving supporters who had come to pay him Sallah homage, as stated in a release on Sunday by Ibrahim Dosara, the former Commissioner for Information.
Mr Matawalle urged Mr Lawal, who was elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to join the APC for the benefit of the state.
The minister insisted that Mr Lawal should take the proper route and join the APC rather than attempting to sneak into the party.
“Dauda Lawal ought to join the APC instead of playing the hide-and-seek game that the governor seems to be engaged in,” Mr Matawalle was quoted as saying.
He assured Mr Lawal that he harbours no resentment towards him and welcomed the governor warmly into the comfortable embrace of the APC.
Mr Matawalle further encouraged Mr Lawal to join the APC, which he described as the leader in security, progress, development, peace, and tranquillity.
The minister highlighted that President Bola Tinubu, as a progressive leader, is an adept manager of peace and stability.
“President Tinubu is focused on the nation’s development and welcomes all those who wish to join the forerunner of peace, harmony, growth, and development,” he stated.
Mr Matawalle reassured his numerous supporters of his commitment to their welfare and urged them to continue backing Mr Tinubu for the realisation of his Renewed Hope Agenda.
He noted that the president is dedicated to the welfare of Zamfara and is keen on addressing the current challenges of insecurity and economic hardship.
The minister recalled how Mr Tinubu’s administration had recently dismantled several terrorist kingpins and their operatives, who had been terrorising the state, the region, and the country at large.
He mentioned that the president had recently instructed security forces to put an end to the wave of insecurity in northern Nigeria before the year concludes.
Mr Matawalle indicated that the Ministry of Defence and the security leadership were devising strategies to ensure adherence to the president’s directives.
However, he lamented that the Zamfara government has not been performing well in combating banditry and safeguarding the welfare of its citizens.
Mr Matawalle pointed out that this is despite the substantial monthly federal allocations being sent to the state.
Thus, he urged Mr Lawal to justify the considerable federal funds by implementing developmental projects and basic infrastructure throughout the state.
