Need for Governor Matawalle to tread with caution

It is no longer a news that Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State is among the best governors in Nigeria. The governor assumed office through divine intervention and was able to contain the bandits that ransacked most communities in the state. Zamfara is now relatively peaceful, courtesy of Matawalle’s exemplary leadership style and hard work. […]

It is no longer a news that Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State is among the best governors in Nigeria. The governor assumed office through divine intervention and was able to contain the bandits that ransacked most communities in the state. Zamfara is now relatively peaceful, courtesy of Matawalle’s exemplary leadership style and hard work. His massive investment in infrastructure and education is highly commendable.

Zamfara State has suffered a lot of setbacks in the last two decades, ranging from bad governance, poverty, lack of education, lack of social amenities, unemployment, insecurity, poor health care services and  bad economy. Thanks to Governor Matawalle for restoring hope in Zamfara through massive transformation of the critical sectors.

To consolidate on his achievements, Governor Matawalle should continue to remain focus. It is important for him to concentrate on building a solid political structure for his party, the PDP, rather than engaging in a political war with Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari, the immediate past governor of the state. I believe it is too early for Matawalle to engage himself in a political fight with those who ruled the state in the past two decades.

Mr. Governor should learn from Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who avoided distractions by refusing to investigate Alhaji Ibrahim Shekarau, his predecessor. He paid Shekarau all his entitlements despite the rivalry  between the two of them. I  recall that Alhaji Shekarau used the state house of assembly to pass a legislation that provided him with millions of Naira as monthly pension, luxurious cars and house, annual vacation in a country of his choice and medical tourism.

In this respect, I want to advice that it will not be bad to pay Yari his legal entitlements, to avoid creating unnecessary unrest in the state. If a governor that was seen in a video allegedly stealing public money can dine with Mr. President, what do you think one can achieve by leaking Yari’s N10 million pension letter?

What do those who say fracas will not lead to chaos in the state, think made Zamfara State Government to accused Yari of complicity in the last bandits attack and leaked his N10 million pension letter to the press? Do you still believe that the two are not connected? When late Alhaji Umaru Yar’adua became president of Nigeria, he budgeted money for amnesty, and peace returned to the Niger-Delta.

For now, I strongly advice Matawalle to sheath his sword in the interest of peace and avoid unnecessary distractions. I wish him a successful tenure in office.

Fahad Ibrahim Danladi

Texas, USA [email protected]