Insecurity: Gov Matawalle accuses Gen. Gusau of aiding Banditry

…As Citizens faulted his claims, says Gov is not Sincere, Culpable

… Accuses Matawalle of owning illegal Gold Mining Sites

By DESERT HERALD

Even as the government of Zamfara State has failed to support their claims with convincing evidence, Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle has accused former National Security Adviser, NSA, Gen. Aliyu Gusau who is also the biological father of his Deputy, Mahdi Aliyu Gusau of aiding and supporting banditry in the state.

The Governor who was widely accused of mismanaging the security crisis in his state has also acclaimed that his Deputy who has remained in the PDP could be behind plots to destabilize his government through the activities of bandits for failure to swear by the holy Quran.

Even though Mr. Matawalle did not categorically mentioned the name of the respected Zamfara born retired Army General, his claims and description perfectly fits that of Gen Gusau who owns strategic mining sites in arguably one of the richest state in Nigeria with huge deposits of gold and other minerals but yet remain the poorest with it’s impoverished citizens amongst the worse living in squalor.

DESERT HERALD reports that Gen. Gusau is 100 percent instrumental to the emergence of Mr. Matawalle as the PDP gubernatorial candidate in the state and has supported the now APC governor up to the Supreme Court where the apex court’s judgement technically favour the Maradun born politician to emerged as the successor of Hon. Abdul’aziz Yari Talatan Mafara. But the relationship subsequently turned sour as Matawalle is generally being accused of betrayal and running a one man government with ONLY him being the beneficiary of his own government in terms of awarding contracts, supply and ‘lucrative’ appointments.

Pundits and keen observers of Zamfara politics told DESERT HERALD that it was that fear of uncertainty as 2023 approaches coupled with ambition for second term that forces Mr. Matawalle to make political gamble to decamp to the APC where powerful gladiators like ex-Gov Yari and Sen. Kabiru Marafa holds strong influence and followership and are now threatening his ambition more than ever before.

Even as Gov Matawalle and his aides are accusing Gen Gusau of owning mining sites and promoting banditry, a claim that could not be probe, the Governor too is being accused by residents and top security chiefs as authoritatively gathered by DESERT HERALD of securing sensitive gold mining sites across the state and is reportedly said to be making billions of naira from the illegal business that has resulted in the killing of many innocent poor citizens of the ‘rich’ state.

The allegations against Gen. Gusau by Matawalle was supported by the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, on Tuesday at a news conference in Gusau.

At the press conference, the Publicity Secretary of the APC in the state, Yusuf Idris, said it has been globally discovered that the bandits terrorising the North Western states, Zamfara State in particular, share common interests with highly placed mining site owners and the miners.

While referring to Gen. Gusau, Idris said: “Such untouchables, as it is, include a retired General.

“He owns over 70 per cent of such sites.”

Yusuf said the security agencies should investigate “why we never hear any fracas between these miners and the bandits even though both operate in the bushes of the state.

“I will also urge you gentlemen of the press to carry out an investigative report on this.

“The result and outcome will shock you to your bones.

“Similarly, as witnesses in the state, you will recall that when His Excellency, Governor (Bello) Matawalle, was still in the PDP (Peoples Democratic Party) and facing serious security challenges, neither the PDP national leadership nor its governors shared the pains of Zamfara.

“This was until they were put to shame by the APC, which came in full force to commiserate with the people and government of our dear state before the PDP sheepishly copied from such visit.

“Also, you remember the governor had challenged all good leaders of the state to come forward and swear that they have no hand in supporting armed banditry in the state and for them to also join him to fashion out best ways of addressing the insecurity bedeviling the state.

“You can tell me if they came.

“The reason is not farfetched.

“Just investigate, you will see why.

“Don’t forget, it was this same Governor Matawalle whose effort single handedly led to the reopening of hitherto closed roads and markets linking and connecting communities within and outside the state, which were shut due to armed bandits’ activities.

“Or is it that the PDP people don’t know all these?”

Pundits however argued that if Gov Matawalle or the state chapter of the APC indeed have such evidence against Gen. Gusau what stops them from compiling and submitting such ‘evidences’ to President Muhammadu Buhari who is from the same party with the Governor for investigation and prosecution or is Matawalle insinuating that Gen. Gusau is ‘untouchable’ even before the President who is a member of his own party?