Dauda Lawal, the saviour Zamfara needs

These are trying times for Zamfara State. Daily news reports coming out of the state are depressing with insecurity, hunger and poverty the main staple. The once peaceful and secure state is no longer safe due to the activities of armed bandits who have had free reign in the past year, looting, killing and maiming.  […]

These are trying times for Zamfara State. Daily news reports coming out of the state are depressing with insecurity, hunger and poverty the main staple.

The once peaceful and secure state is no longer safe due to the activities of armed bandits who have had free reign in the past year, looting, killing and maiming.  Communities across the state now live in constant fear of the killers despite the ongoing military offensive by the army and air force.

Economically, the people are not faring better with a significant number impoverished. According to the United Nations Poverty Index, the state has a 91.9% poverty rate, making it the poorest state in Nigeria despite its abundant agricultural and mineral resources. Zamfara also has one of the highest maternal and infant mortality rates, while literacy rate among its population is also one of the lowest in Nigeria.

Governance, particularly under the outgoing two-term governor, Abdulaziz Yari appears to have failed with people yearning for a saviour who will address the rot and improve their lives.

Such a man is the philanthropist, community leader, technocrat and ex-banker, Dr Dauda Lawal Dare, (Gamjin Gusau) a governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who joined other aspirants at a peaceful rally that locked down Gusau on Sunday, September 15.

Born in Gusau on September 2, 1965, Lawal is a ‘homeboy’ in touch with the yearnings of his people. He is known throughout Zamfara and across the North as someone who looks after his people. He is a a unifier who uses his wide contacts for the common good of his people and the society at large. He is a creative bridge-builder highly regarded for his pleasant, humble, calm and generous spirit and who is beloved by the grassroots and highly respected by his peers.

For many years, the people have been urging him to run for political office, to the Gamjin Gusau has been a government of sorts in the state to the people of the state, developing both human and physical infrastructure. Apart from giving scholarships to students within and outside the state, Lawal has also ensured that they study in conducive atmospheres by providing decent accommodation for them. He built hostels at the School of Health Technology, Tsafe and at SNMW, Gusau.  Lawal also dualised a road at the Federal University, Gusau; renovated the Muslim Foundation Islamiyya School, Gusau and rebuilt the Muslim Foundation Jumat Mosque also in the state capital.   He ensured that the dead have a decent final resting place by renovating the Gada Biyu Cemetry in Gusau and instituted several SMEs schemes across northern Nigeria.

Though gloom currently pervades the state due to the socio, economic and security issues, the people have an enabler in the serious-minded aspirant who, if he emerges as the APC standard bearer and the eventual governor, will stem the tide of negativity.  Considering his close bond with the people who love and trust him because of his track record of service, hard work, respect and bridge-building skills, the APC at the state and national level will do well to ensure a level playing field for all aspirants to boost Lawal’s emergence.

Direct primaries, as recommended by the national working committee of the party should be adopted in the state as against the indirect primaries being advocated in some quarters to ensure a free and fair process that will be beneficial to all aspirants.  Though there have been talks of a successor anointed by Governor Abdulaziz Yari, the APC at the national level will be well advised to take a special interest in Zamfara and ensure only a popular candidate emerges. The recent displeasure expressed by supporters of aspirants who prefer direct primary to the indirect option Governor Yari is advocating is a pointer to what the people want and why the APC at the national level need to step in to grant their wishes. The APC has blazed the trail of internal democracy in political parties with the adoption of direct primaries, Zamfara shouldn’t be allowed to buck the trend.

With the Political Science graduate of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria on the ballot as its standard bearer, the APC can be assured of retaining the state. Working with the aspirant, the party would be able to ensure a sweeping victory and safeguard the President’s victory in the general election to enable him to pursue and entrench the good policies of his administration.

Most importantly, the experienced banker will be able to lift Zamfara out of poverty, bring an end to the conflict bedevilling the state, ensure lasting peace and promote rapid development. A safe, secure, prosperous and investment-friendly state is what Lawal signifies and explains why the people want him as their governor.  Zamfara has punched below its weight in recent times and the person to remedy this and take the state to next level of development is the former Executive Director, Public Sector Group, FirstBank.

With over 25 years of meritorious service in the private and public sector, Zamfara will head in the right direction with Lawal, a man who knows where the shoe pinches and who is not afraid of working hard to lift his people from the morass of poverty. In terms of educational and professional qualifications, none comes better recommended than Lawal who gained a B.Sc. in Political Science and M.SC in Political Science and International Relations from the Ahmadu Bello University before further developing himself by taking courses at prestigious universities including the London School of Economics, Harvard Business School, Oxford University Business School and Lagos Business School among others.

Starting out as a Political Education Officer with the defunct MAMSER, the holder of an honorary doctorate degree from the Usman Dan Fodiyo University, Sokoto was Assistant General Manager at Westex Nigeria Ltd from 1989 to 1992. He joined the Nigerian Embassy in Washington as Assistant Consular Officer in 1994 and left in 2003 as Chief Protocol Officer.  He moved to the private sector after this, joining FirstBank as a middle management staff and leaving in 2017 as Executive Director, Public Sector Group.

The APC stands a good chance of retaining Zamfara with Lawal on the ballot as its standard bearer; all the party need ensure now is a fair direct primary where the people will make their choice, with the aspirant set to carry the day. Zamfara needs a better future and that is assured with Dr Dauda Lawal Dare, an altruist with service in his DNA.

Tsafe wrote this piece from Gusau, Zamfara State.