Matawalle Didn’t Steal Zamfara Money, Says Spokesman

The Spokesperson to the former Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle, who is also a former adviser on Urban Planning, Comrade Anas Abdullahi Kaura, has denied allegations that his principal stole the state funds while in office.

Kaura was reacting to a report alleging that his boss, Matawallen Maradun, squandered and pocketed money from the state’s treasury.

The spokesman said the campaign of calumny and character assasination against Matawalle were the handiwork of people he described as naysayers, who will stop at nothing but to tarnish the good image of his principal.

LEADERSHIP reports that a group of individuals had on Monday called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to arrest the former governor over alleged misappropriation of N70billion.

But, speaking in defence of his principal, Kaura said the allegations were unfounded, adding that Matawalle governed Zamfara State with a clean hands.

He noted that those who don’t want the progress of the state were still after him even when he is not the governor of the State.

“Reports indicated that the demonstrators are not from Zamfara, but some bunch of hired hooligans that are poised at tarnishing the image of the man who served Zamfara state to the best of his ability,” Anas stated adding that Matawalle did not siphon the state’s funds.

He further stated that former Governor Matawalle sacrificed his seat for the victory of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the just-concluded 2023 presidential election, adding that only a man who loved Zamfara State will do that.

“Reports from the background indicated that the demonstrators were spearheaded by one popular contractor from Benue state, who lacks knowledge of Zamfara governance and politics but we’re sponsored to tarnish the image of the respected former Governor.

“This is nothing but a blatant campaign to tarnish the image of Matawalle,” Kaura said of the protest, adding that it was the reason they were eager to hire non-indigenes of the state to carry out the mayhem called protest.

“We are sure that there is no Zamfara state indigene, big or small, that will come out and protest against Muhammad Bello Matawallen Maradun, who sacrificed his life for the state when they needed him the most.

“If it’s true that they want EFCC to invite and grill the former governor of Zamfara state, Bello Matawallen Maradun, why shouldn’t they call for the commission to arrest and investigate former ministers of Buhari’s cabinet?

“And why didn’t they call on EFCC to investigate and grill other former governors? Why are they calling for the arrest of Bello Matawalle only?

“This is to say that it’s nothing but political witch-hunting. We call on the EFCC to work jointly with the Department of Security Services (DSS) to get reliable and correct first-hand information on the current investigation of the former Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Godwin Emefiele.

“Because, we believe that Godwin Emefiele and the current governor of Zamfara state, Dr Dauda Lawal Dare are partners in monetary transactions,” Kaura claimed.