GOVERNOR Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has challenged political office holders who feel they have not benefited from his administration to resign, insisting that claims of neglect by some government officials are not entirely true.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Government House, Gusau, on Sunday, Lawal said commissioners and other political office holders who believed they were not benefiting from the administration should consider leaving their positions.
News Point Nigeria reports that the governor spoke against the backdrop of complaints raised by various stakeholders, including political office holders, youths and women, who alleged that they had not received adequate welfare under the Dauda-led administration.
“There are some political office holders who complain that they have not gotten anything. That is not true. Even among the commissioners, anyone who feels he is not getting anything should resign,” he said.
Lawal, however, explained that his administration had deliberately focused on delivering basic infrastructure and other projects across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), saying the projects were aimed at providing long-term benefits to the people of the state.
According to him, available data showed that infrastructure worth more than N20 billion had been delivered to each of the 14 local government areas in the last three years.
He said that, having spent the past three years focused on governance, infrastructure development and restoring relative peace in the state, his administration would now shift attention to party politics.
“For three years, we have focused on governance. Now it is time to return to politics, because its time has come,” Lawal said.
The governor, however, admitted that one mistake made by the government was its failure to publicly disclose the names of those who had been awarded contracts, promising that the names would soon be made public.
Lawal also acknowledged the contributions of key party stakeholders, including Reps Abdulmalik Zannah, Ahmadu Mai-Palace, Aminu Jaji and Bello Hassan, whom he said had provided various empowerment items for the people and youths of the state.
He appealed to the stakeholders for patience with politicians and other party faithful, assuring them that the situation would soon change.
The governor also appealed to APC loyalists to unite, urging them to abandon factional politics and work together under one platform.
“From today, please, let us stop the politics of so-and-so’s houses. Let us come together as one party with the same vision. The talk of Dauda’s house, Matawalle’s house or Shehi’s house should stop.
“Let us unite and stay under one house, because it is Allah who has brought us together in His grace,” he said.
Lawal further disclosed that no fewer than 3,000 youths had been trained in various skills by his administration.
He said transport fares had also been provided, while graduates were being supported to become self-reliant, with a monthly list of beneficiaries being maintained.
The governor also announced plans to meet with all the former governors of the state — Ahmad Yarima, Mamuda Shinkafi, Abdulaziz Yari and Bello Matawalle — in Abuja to harmonise and compile the list of those who would lead the APC Campaign Council in Zamfara.
“Please, even if you don’t see your name, don’t think you are not important. By Allah’s grace, everyone is important, it’s just that not everyone can be included,” he said.
Lawal assured the stakeholders that he had heard and taken note of all the complaints raised during the meeting, promising that his administration would develop plans to ensure that everyone benefits.
“All the complaints have been noted. I have heard them and I have taken note of them.
“We will come up with plans so that everyone will benefit, by the grace of Allah. Whoever has something in his heart should be patient,” Lawal pleaded.