Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has come under intense criticism from elders in the state for organizing a political rally in Gusau amid devastating bandit attacks that have claimed numerous lives and displaced thousands of residents across multiple local government areas.
The Zamfara Progressive Elders Group described the governor's decision to host the rally shortly after returning from a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia as "insensitive" and showing a lack of empathy toward victims of the recent violence.
Elders Condemn Governor's Priorities
Speaking on behalf of the group, Chairman Mustafa Aliyu Kaura expressed disappointment over what he perceived as the governor's misplaced priorities during a critical security crisis.
"Instead of mourning with the families of the victims and showing leadership in a time of pain, the governor chose to organize a political gathering and failed to send a word of condolence," Kaura stated.
According to the elders' group, more than 100 people have been killed in coordinated attacks by armed groups across 11 Local Government Areas over the past two months. The violence has reportedly displaced over 245,000 people who are now taking shelter in camps across Gusau, Gummi, Tsafe, Shinkafi, Talata Mafara, and Kaura Namoda.
Questions Over Rally Expenditure
The elders also raised concerns about the financial implications of the rally, which they claimed cost hundreds of millions of naira. They described the timing as particularly poor given the ongoing security and humanitarian crisis affecting communities in Bukkuyum, Maru, Zurmi, Shinkafi, and Tsafe Local Government Areas.
The criticism comes as northern Nigeria continues to grapple with escalating insecurity, with bandits carrying out attacks on rural communities despite government efforts to address the situation.
Governor Lawal has yet to respond to the allegations and criticisms from the elders' group as of the time of this report.
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