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Tag: matawalle

  • Matawalle appoints serving Army Major as new Emir of Kaura-Namoda

    Matawalle appoints serving Army Major as new Emir of Kaura-Namoda

    Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara has approved the appointment of Major Sanusi Muhammad as the new Emir of Kaura-Namoda.

    A statement by Zailani Bappa, media aide to the governor, said that the appointment followed a recommendation by the area’s traditional council.

    It said that the 40-year-old new Monarch, who would succeed his father, Alhaji Muhammad Asha, who died last week, is a serving Major in the Nigerian Army.

    Asha had served as Emir for 15 years and died after brief illness. He was aged 71.

    The statement quoted the governor as congratulating the new appointee and wishing him success in his new task.

  • Zamfara Politics: Gov Matawalle joining APC soon – Yerima

    Zamfara Politics: Gov Matawalle joining APC soon – Yerima

    Zamfara’s Governor Bello Matawalle of the Peoples Democratic Party will switch political allegiance to the All Progressives Congress soon.

    Former governor of the state and three-term Senator Ahmed Sani Yarima confidently said this in a newspaper interview published on Monday.

    Yarima, who as governor appointed Matawalle to run the Ministry of Local Government said the political switch is in the works and is ‘most likely”.

    “Yes. We are working and we are talking. Every politician tries to get more people to their party especially governors. If I can have governors with me, the party will be better off”, he said.

    Asked how far the APC had gone to woo Matawalle, Yarima responded:

    “I think we have gone very far”.

    Here is the rest of the conversation:

    Q: So very soon he is going to decamp?

    A: Very soon, yes.

    Q: Isn’t it an irony that while you are saying he is going to decamp to the APC, your foot soldiers in local government are decamping to the governor’s party, PDP?

    A: This is politics. You would not understand what is happening. He will not just move in and not know who is with him. But now, if they move and he moves with them, they are his foot soldiers. Every politician wants to be sure that this man or this politician is with me.

    Q: Where will ex-governor Abdulaziz Yari be in all this?

    A: He will join. He will continue as APC member unless he wants to leave.

  • Zamfara Gov, Matawalle wins Security Icon Award

    Zamfara Gov, Matawalle wins Security Icon Award

    Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State is set to bestowed with the prestigious award as “Security Icon of the Year” for 2019 by TheNigerian News Group.

    Since taking over the helm of affairs from Abdul’aziz Yari on May 29, Mr Matawalle earned wave review for his unorthodox, progressive and charismatic leadership style, especially in the area of security.

    Having inherited a state riddled with banditry, kidnap and other social vices, the onus was on the incoming government to erase these ills and restore peace.

    With improved collaboration with the military and other security agencies, banditry has been brought to a barest minimum in Zamfara, which prompted TheNigerian to honour the governor.

    In a statement on Friday by Group Managing Director, David Onmeje, TheNigerian News Group, owners of TheNigerian News, TheNigerian Tabloid, Television Nigerian and soon-to-be-launched radio, said Mr Matawalle was singled out for altering the status quo in governance.

    Whilst other governors play politics with the lives of the citizenry, Mr Onmeje noted that Matawalle has taken upon himself to rally round major stakeholders including the youths, security agencies, political leaders and other key institutions to restore peace to Zamfara State.

    The GMD further revealed that Mr Matawalle has already created a path for other governors to follow in helping to quench the fire of insecurity in their domains.

    “His Excellency, Dr. Bello Muhammed Matawalle, the Executive Governor of Zamfara State inherited a state crippled and strangulated by awful insecurity fuelled by the satanic activities of armed bandits and cattle rustlers,” the statement reads.

    “However, within an unbelievably short time, the Governor was able to demobilize and suppress the forces of evil against the state. He fearlessly and boldly confronted the veiled, but dreaded forces promoting insecurity in Zamfara state.

    “Mr Matawalle is recognised for his genuineness of purpose and dexterity in the discharge of his duties, remarkable synergy with the military and other security agencies to protect vulnerable children and women from terror sects and then rewarding youth rehabilitation and empowerment initiatives.”

  • Just in: Supreme Court affirms PDP’s Matawalle winner of Zamfara Gubernatorial election

    Just in: Supreme Court affirms PDP’s Matawalle winner of Zamfara Gubernatorial election

    The Supreme Court has dismissed the case against the Peoples Democratic Party filed by Sani Takori Gummi challenging the victory of Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara state.

    The Court, in a unanimous decision, dismissed the case for lack of merit as the Appellant could not prove the charge of lack of spread by the PDP in the last Gubernatorial elections in Zamfara State.

    The Court ruled that the earlier verdict by the same Court which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) confirmed the suitability of the PDP as the party that qualified to be sworn into office actually suffices.

    Reacting to the judgement on Thursday afternoon Governor Matawalle said the truth always defies suppression. While dedicating the victory to the good people of Zamfara State, he called on all opposition parties to join hands with his administration to move the state forward.

    “Having gone this far, it is ripe time for all and sundry to now focus on meaningful ventures of finding ways through which we can save our state from its present disadvantages in all sectors of human endeavour”, Governor Matawalle appealed.

  • Matawalle’s commissioner resigns two weeks after inauguration, gives reasons

    Matawalle’s commissioner resigns two weeks after inauguration, gives reasons

    Zamfara Commissioner of Education, Alhaji Jamilu Zannah has resigned, posting a sharp rebuke of Governor Bello Matawalle as a bad team player.

    Zannah resigned barely two weeks after his inauguration as a member of the state executive council.

    He hinged his resignation on the “high-handedness” and lack of consultation on the part of Matawalle.

    The government has however dismissed the claims, saying Zannah’s action was unfortunate, selfish and a ploy for cheap publicity.

    The former Commissioner, who also served as Matawalle’s campaign director during the 2019 governorship election in the state, announced his resignation on Saturday while speaking to newsmen at his Gusau residence.

    “His excellency, Alhaji Bello Matawalle has been doing things and running this government single handedly since he assumed office as governor.

    “As his campaign director general, I know we made several promises to many people that when we succeed, these promises will be met.

    “However, of all the appointments so far made which include many directors general, senior special assistants, special assistants, special advisers, permanent secretaries, commissioners and members of boards and committees, I am not aware of any that the governor consulted us on.”

    Zannah who just returned from a medical trip in India said, “even though the governor was aware of my sickness and my medical trip where l stayed for about 40 days, which was why l missed the executive council inauguration, he never called to sympathize with me up to the time l returned.

    “Since l did not join this Matawalle movement for my personal gains but for the benefits of the people and in order to move the state forward, l have decided to reject this appointment as commissioner of education in the state with immediate effect, and this followed my discussions with my associates.

    “I do not know how l can face all those people we made promises to when they see me going round as commissioner while the promises made to them remained unfulfilled.”

    Matawalle who is currently on a foreign trip, however, said through his Special Adviser on Media, Zailani Bappa, “it is rather unfortunate that someone who claims closeness to His Excellency will resort to this unwholesome antic which is clearly a ploy to achieve a cheap and personal political goal.”

    He dismissed the reasons for the resignation as paltry, shallow and a political joke.

    “To put the records straight, His Excellency, Governor Bello Muhammad promised the people of Zamfara State peaceful co-existence and good governance.

    “The whole world has acclaimed the excellent achievements of His Excellency in bringing peace and introduction of programmes for the speedy development of the state.

    “It is therefore, unfortunate that personal and selfish considerations will becloud the vision of trusted confidants at a time when all hands must be on deck to begin a new era in the history of Zamfara State.”

    He however wished Zannah all the best in his future endeavours.

    Zannah was a former state chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers and the Nigeria Labour Congress.

  • Zamfara: APC lauds Matawalle over stoppage of mega pension to ex-govs, deputies

    Zamfara: APC lauds Matawalle over stoppage of mega pension to ex-govs, deputies

    The Zamfara chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has commended the PDP-led leadership in the state for canceling bogus allowances to past political leaders of the state.

    The party spoke through Alhaji Sani Gwamna, its Vice-Chairman in the Central Senatorial District.

    Gwamna, who spoke with newsmen shortly after the party’s meeting on Saturday in Gusau, suggested that monies saved from repealing the pension law should be channelled into development projects.

    Gov Matawalle had, on Wednesday, passed into law a bill cancelling bogus pensions for former Deputy Governors, their deputies, Speakers, and other officials of the state legislature.

    Gwamna, while describing the step as “commendable”, said that the money saved from the repealed pensions law should be channeled into opening up the rural areas to improve the lives of the people.

    On current happenings in the state, Gwamna alleged that security personnel were “being used by politicians in power to achieve selfish interests”.

    “We have remained law-abiding, but our members are being subjected to intimidation, harassment and threats by law enforcement agents. This is becoming a cause for concern.

    “We know there are offices of security agencies; as law-abiding citizens, we are ready to go to these offices when invited on any issue, but when securitymen arrest our members without due process, that will not be fair.”

    Contacted over the allegations, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Police Command in Zamfara, Mr Shehu Mohammed, said that he was not aware of such happenings.

    “Did they give you the names of those arrested? I am asking because I have no information to that effect, but l will enquire and get back to you,” Mohammed told NAN.

  • Killing of nine soldiers: Matawalle summons emergency meeting with Fulani leaders

    Killing of nine soldiers: Matawalle summons emergency meeting with Fulani leaders

    Zamfara Government has summoned an emergency meeting with Fulani leaders over attack on an outpost in which nine soldiers were killed in Sunke village of Anka local government area.

    Senior Special Assistant to Governor Bello Matawalle on Security Matters, Alhaji Abubakar Dauran, told newsmen in Gusau on Saturday that the meeting was to forestall future occurrence.

    He however did not say when the meeting will be held.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Suru attack is the first major security breach since the government initiated dialogue with bandits in the state.

    Dauran confirmed that Thursday’s attack left some soldiers and the attackers dead, while those injured were admitted in Federal Medical Center, Gusau for proper medical attention.

    According to him, the attackers were from Niger state.

    “Following the good relationship and understanding established with the bandits which led to their repentance in Zamfara, I can assure you that those attackers are not from Zamfara.

    “Immediately after the attack, we reached out to the Fulani leaders in the state who confirmed to us that none of their members participated, but we have summoned a meeting with them to forestal reoccurance,” he said.

    Some eye witnesses who spoke to NAN on condition of anonymity, said the bandits that attacked the joint security outpost numbered over 200, riding motorcycles.

  • JUST IN: Matawalle shuts down school, suspends workers for desecrating Qur’an

    JUST IN: Matawalle shuts down school, suspends workers for desecrating Qur’an

    Gov. Bello Matawalle of Zamfara has sent all staff of Shattima Model Primary School, Gusau on an indefinite suspension following the desecration of the Holy Qur’an in the school.

    The school has also been shut pending full investigation by the state Basic Education Commission, said a statement issued in Gusau on Saturday by Yusuf Idris, the Director-General, Press Affairs to the governor.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that pages of the Holy Qur’an were discovered around 11am on Friday in the sewage of the school.

    There has been abuses of the Holy Book in the state since late 2017.

    The incidences occurred at Danturai Primary school, State Library, Farida General Hospital and Rabi’a Jumaat Mosque, among others, all within Gusau metropolis.

    The governor who is currently in the United States to woo investors, assured that the government would fish out the perpetrators.

    He directed immediate deployment of three additional security guards to all public primary schools in the state capital to beef up security.

    “Government will deal ruthlessly with anyone with a hand in this dastardly act, however highly placed,” he said and urged residents to be more vigilant.

    Matawalle said people should report suspicious movements in their areas to security agencies or Shariah commission officials for prompt intervention.

  • Matawalle raises alarm over infiltration of Boko Haram elements in Zamfara

    Matawalle raises alarm over infiltration of Boko Haram elements in Zamfara

    Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara has alerted on the presence of elements of Boko Haram allegedly recruited by some politicians to cause havoc in the state.

    The governor made the revelation through his Director-General of Press Affairs, Yusuf Idris at a press briefing in Gusau on Monday. He said the state government “has credible intelligence reports suggesting that some disgruntled politicians of the state origin are making clandestine moves to destabilize the state.

    “They are intending for sinister and personal gains, collaborating with dispersed elements of Boko Haram, to launch series of attacks on innocent and peace-loving people of the State to scuttle the relative peace being currently enjoyed as a result of the peace and dialogue process initiated by the present administration.

    “According to the intelligence report, the cruel and mischievious elements have perfected plans to launch the attacks in seven local government areas of the state and other strategic places within the state capital and that two important personalities of the state are also targeted for elimination should this dastardly act succeed.

    “The targeted local governments include Gusau, the state capital, Tsafe, Talata Mafara, Anka, Zurmi, Maru and Maradun while the strategic places targeted are Gusau Central Mosque and Gusau army Mammy Market where soft targets are known to gather both at day and night.

    “The Boko Haram elements were said to have been recruited from far and wide to carry out these heinous acts slated for between Monday 23rd September to 25th October 2019.”

    The governor further said it became imperative to alert people of the state on the development to guard against panic and give an update on government preparedness in collaboration with security agencies in arresting the situation. He said already, security had been beefed up in all the identified flashpoints and areas while stop and search operations were being intensified in all parts of the state.

    Matawalle appreciated the people’s goodwill to his administration and assured that he would not be “deterred nor distracted by negative thinkers in his drive to improve the standard of living of the state and its people.”

    The governor also thanked repentant bandits and members of the Yansakai group for sustaining the peace process initiated by his administration which had brought peace in the state.

  • Ex-Zamfara gov, Yari denies leaving N252bn debt for Matawalle

    Former Zamfara State Governor Abdul Aziz Yari Abubakar has debunked allegations of leaving behind N252 billion debts to Governor Bello Muhammad Matawalle.

    Yari said he left over N7 billion for the take-off of the Matawalle’s administration.

    The former governor, who spoke through his media aide, Malam Ibrahim Dosara, at the APC secretariat in Gusau, added that paid a debt of over N45 billion left behind by the administration before him.

    Yari was reacting to the allegation by the Chairman of PDP Transition Committee, Malam Ibrahim Wakkala, that he left behind over N252 billion.

    The allegation, the former governor said, could not be swept under the carpet.

    He stressed that the Zamfara people enjoyed dividends of democracy under him with the inauguration of projects by President Muhammad Buhari, All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and many more prominent dignitaries.

    Yari stressed that the allegations were baseless and an effort to smear his image.

    He said that it was astonishing to note that Wakkala who was his deputy and Chairman, Zamfara Stare Tender Board could not differentiate between ongoing projects, awarded projects and what should be addressed as liabilities and debts.

    His media aide said: “No bank loan was left or obtained by the Ministry of Finance under Governor Abdul Aziz Yari and left behind as debt to the present administration.”

    On education, he said: “There were debts inherited by Yari from the administration before him and his administration on inception met with the various examination bodies, which Wakkala claimed Yari’s administration owed. Yari negotiated with the bodies to pay the debt by instalments.”

    The former governor explained that his government paid the examination and tuition fees of Zamfara State students.