A growing wave of criticism has trailed Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, for hosting a political rally in the state capital, Gusau, shortly after returning from a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia despite a surge in deadly bandit attacks that have claimed hundreds of lives across multiple local government areas.
The Zamfara Progressive Elders Group, led by its chairman, Alhaji Mustafa Aliyu Kaura, condemned the governor’s actions, describing the rally as “insensitive” and “a slap in the face” of grieving communities.
He said Instead of mourning with the families of the victims and showing leadership in a time of pain, the Governor chose to organize a ‘political jamboree’, and failed to send a single word of condolence to the families of the deceased in Bukkuyum, Maru, Zurmi, Shinkafi, and Tsafe local government areas, where lives and properties were recently destroyed.”
Over the past two months, coordinated attacks by armed bandits across 11 local government areas have reportedly resulted in the deaths of more than 100 innocent residents, with many more displaced from their communities.
The elders’ group argued that the governor’s show of political might allegedly costing hundreds of millions of naira was both ill-timed and irresponsible, particularly at a time when over 245,000 internally displaced persons are languishing in camps across six LGAs, including Gusau, Gummi, Tsafe, Shinkafi, Talata Mafara, and Kaura Namoda.
“The funds spent on transporting political loyalists and organizing a motorcade could have been used to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to victims of insecurity or improve basic services like clean water and food supply”
Critics have also questioned Governor Dauda’s decision to prioritize a high-profile rally following what they described as an extravagant Hajj trip involving aides, relatives, and political associates.
“He returned from a million-dollar pilgrimage only to mock the suffering of his people with a four-hour convoy celebration from Yankara to Gusau,” Kaura said.
The Progressive Elders Group is now calling on the governor to shift focus from “political celebrations” to the core responsibilities of governance, especially in tackling the deepening humanitarian and security crises across the state.
According to them there is no governance without security “The people of Zamfara are hungry, displaced, and afraid. They need protection, empathy, and action not rallies and empty shows of power.”
Despite numerous promises by successive administrations, Zamfara continues to grapple with widespread insecurity, with rural communities often left at the mercy of well-armed criminal gangs. The recent rally has further heightened tensions, with citizens demanding that the state government channel its resources towards restoring peace and rebuilding lives.