The Speaker of the Zamfara State House of Assembly, Bashir Aliyu Gummi, has openly criticised Governor Dauda Lawal, accusing him of turning a blind eye to the plight of citizens suffering from escalating insecurity across the state.
During a legislative session on Thursday, Speaker Gummi faulted the governor for what he described as indifference toward victims of recent violent attacks in various communities. According to Gummi, rather than expressing sympathy or visiting affected areas, the governor chose to embark on a vacation while parts of the state were reeling from deadly assaults.
He referenced a wave of violence that swept through Jangebe in Talata-Mafara, Damri in Bakura, Kyambarawa in Kaura Namoda, and Bungudu, where reports indicated that hundreds of individuals were either killed or kidnapped within just one week.
The Speaker lamented the lack of tangible government intervention or condolence to grieving families and displaced persons, stating that the silence from the state’s leadership in the face of such suffering was both troubling and unacceptable.
Supporting Gummi’s concerns, several lawmakers—including Aliyu Kagara, Ibrahim Tukur, Bashir Zango, and Faruk Dosara—voiced their frustration over what they perceived as the misappropriation of the state’s security funds. They accused the governor of failing to provide adequate support for the Community Protection Guards (CPGs), a local security initiative designed to aid in curbing banditry and other forms of violence.
The legislators jointly called for immediate financial reinforcement for the CPGs, including the prompt payment of entitlements to the families of deceased personnel who had lost their lives in the line of duty. They also advocated for the deployment of additional federal security operatives to the state’s most vulnerable areas, where residents remain exposed to frequent attacks.
Further intensifying their scrutiny of the state’s administration, the assembly members raised alarms over alleged diversion of financial assistance from several donor-funded initiatives. These include the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE), the Community and Social Development Agency (CSDA), and the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL).
In response to the allegations, the House established a committee headed by Aliyu Kagara, tasking it with the investigation of all financial inflows and how they were disbursed by the state government. The committee is expected to present its findings to the House in the coming weeks.
In a related development, the lawmakers also deliberated on the creation of additional local government areas as part of broader efforts to address administrative inefficiencies and bring governance closer to the people.
Areas proposed for elevation to local government status include Dansadau, Sauri, Mada, Jangebe, and Damri, among others. These new councils would be carved from existing LGAs, aimed at improving service delivery and boosting development at the grassroots level.
What you should know
Speaker Bashir Aliyu Gummi has become an increasingly vocal critic of Governor Dauda Lawal’s handling of security matters in Zamfara. His latest comments reflect growing frustration within the House over the state’s security response, especially as insurgent violence continues to displace thousands of residents.
