The Honourable Minister of State for Defence and immediate past Governor of Zamfara State, Dr. Bello Muhammad Matawalle, MON, has extended a public invitation to Governor Dauda Lawal to formally join the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Dr. Matawalle made the appeal on Saturday, June 7, 2025, at his residence in Maradun, where he received thousands of supporters who paid him a Sallah homage. Addressing the crowd, he described the APC as a party of “leaders with humility and respect” and called on Governor Lawal to embrace the progressive fold for the development and unity of Zamfara State.
While welcoming the idea of Governor Lawal’s potential defection, the Minister urged him to do so through proper and transparent channels. “Instead of playing a hide-and-seek game, the Governor should come out openly and follow due process to join the APC,” Matawalle said.
He emphasized that he harbours no personal grievance against the Governor and is ready to receive him into the party in the interest of the state. He noted that the APC remains open to all who are genuinely committed to the progress, peace, and development of Zamfara and Nigeria.
Matawalle also praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a unifying and visionary leader whose Renewed Hope Agenda prioritizes national security, economic prosperity, and inclusive governance. “President Tinubu is always ready to welcome anyone who shares in the dream of peace, unity, and progress,” he added.
Reaffirming his continued commitment to the welfare of his supporters, Matawalle urged them to remain steadfast in their support for the Tinubu administration, particularly in the core areas of security, agriculture, health, social wellbeing, and economic growth.
He noted that the President has demonstrated genuine concern for the plight of Zamfara State and is actively working to restore stability. He called on the people of the state to support the President’s vision to overcome the state’s challenges.
The Minister highlighted recent strides by the Tinubu administration in counter-terrorism efforts, including the neutralization of key terrorist commanders and their foot soldiers. He disclosed that President Tinubu has directed the security services to end the spate of insecurity in northern Nigeria before the end of the year. The Ministry of Defence, in coordination with the nation’s security architecture, is diligently working toward fulfilling this mandate.
However, Matawalle criticized the current Zamfara State Government for what he described as a lacklustre approach to tackling banditry. He accused the administration of misleading the public rather than implementing serious security strategies.
Reflecting on his own tenure, Matawalle said his administration achieved meaningful progress in the areas of security, welfare, and public safety, despite working with far fewer financial resources—receiving only about ₦3 to ₦4 billion monthly in federal allocations. In contrast, he alleged that Governor Lawal’s administration now receives between ₦19 to ₦24 billion monthly but has not delivered commensurate results.
He challenged Governor Lawal to publicly disclose the exact federal allocations the state receives monthly and to provide a transparent account of how those funds have been spent, particularly on development projects.