Matawalle’s Brothers Fingered in Illegal Gold Mining

…How Illegal Miners take over Sauna Mine Site

…Why Insecurity May Linger in Zamfara

By Maryam Musa

Unknown to many citizens of Zamfara State, the state which is considered one of the poorest in Nigeria with one of the lowest federal statutory allocation and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) is in fact one of the richest states in Nigeria. The state has a large deposit of gold and other valuable minerals which according to the analysis of experts are enough to feed the entire nation.

Over the last eight years, the gold in Zamfara has attracted the attention of those in executive powers in the state, their close cronies, the Army and indeed some powerful northern elites notably retired military generals and even foreign nationals.

The exploitation of the gold deposits, which are in large quantity in different mining sites, has over the years made a few cliques billionaires while the supposed poor state and its citizens continue to wallow in abject poverty, squalor and lack of even basic amenities that will address the many years of sufferings of the larger society.

Even under the new government of Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle the exploitation and diversion of Zamfara’s mineral deposits largely gold has continued unabated. Poor residents of the mining sites are unanimous that for such an illegal business to flourish the manner it is being done suggests clearly that it has the endorsement of the state government with key officials and allegedly the governor himself as top beneficiaries of the looting spree of Zamfara’s gold.

The unfortunate development, even though most citizens of the state are now realizing how blessed their state is with large deposits of gold that can permanently change their impoverished lives, is still being exploited under strict secrecy with allegedly the police and army providing security cover to the exploiters.

As has been the practice during former Governor Abdul’aziz Yari Abubakar when the illegal business began, Zamfara governor according to insiders has tremendous influence with heavy returns from the proceeds of gold that are being extracted albeit illegally.

The so-called law that allows certain ‘companies’ to engage in gold mining remains a fraud since the primary constituency, which is the Zamfara people, did not even know about the billions in gold value that are being taking away from their state on daily basis.

The conspiracy over the illegal gold mining and business in Zamfara has been the primary reason why insecurity in the state has become a disturbing imbroglio throughout the tenure of Mr. Yari and the incumbent Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle. Governor Matawalle and his immediate predecessor, Mr. Yari pundits argued, have so much in common in terms of lust for material acquisition and giving preference to their ‘businesses’ or sources of income above the primary responsibility of selfless service to the people and judicious use of the state’s resources.

While it is true that Mr. Matawalle has being a successful business man as a politician, the incumbent Governor this paper can confirm has almost gone bankrupt prior to his emergence as Governor.

His critics averred that his claim of being rich before coming to office is far from the truth and that the assertion was meant to justify the acquisition of some new multi million-naira properties especially within Abuja and Kaduna that were leaked directly to him.

They said the Matawalle they knew prior to the Supreme Court ruling that technically gave him mandate is indeed bankrupt before May 2019 and that it will be impossible for all those that are close to him to get the money they now have.

As an indication of how rich Zamfara is even though its citizens remain one of the poorest with virtually no infrastructure, Governor Matawalle had about two months ago presented the samples of Zamfara gold and other precious stones to President Muhammadu Buhari at the Villa.

But quite typical of the President, instead of insisting on transparency, accountability and even the right legislation to manage the mining sites of Zamfara and to ensure that the citizens are enjoying the proceeds of their natural resources, Matawalle’s visit ended with the usual commendation by the President.

It does not occurred to the President that few people allegedly with the backing of the state government are making billions through the gold deposits while insecurity, hunger and lack of basic amenities have continued to ravage the citizens of the supposedly the richest state.

Insiders that are privy to the deals at the mining sites and the fortunes that are being generated by the ‘privileged’ few confided in DESERT HERALD that from the last eight years including today, a governor in Zamfara State seats on billions and can bring succor to the people through their naturally endowed resources if he so wishes.

But the exploitation of such resources, according to them, is usually in connivance with a seating governor because he has enormous executive powers and authority to use the advantage for the benefit of his own people.

They accused Governor Matawalle of toeing the path of Mr. Yari in allowing capitalist elements to exploit the gold deposits and also accused the governor for being one of the major beneficiaries of the illegal gold mining in the state today.

But even though close associates of Governor Matawalle are unanimous that he has indeed gone bankrupt prior to his emergence as Governor, the Maradun born governor believes he has been a rich man and a successful businessman since before he became the governor of the state.

On the issue of Zamfara’s rich mineral wealth and how his own blood brothers, Abubakar Mohammed Maradun aka Skido and Aminu Danmaliki who are said to be one of the top arrow heads of the exploitation of Zamfara’s gold, Zamfara people have scored their Governor very low and have faulted the claims of transparency of his government.

Skido and Danmaliki are reportedly the richest and most powerful cabal in Zamfara state and that no one dares to see the Governor unless their blessing is sort.

Most importantly, pundits averred that if the politics and manipulations of the gold mining continue and a seating government in the state continues to be lackluster in addressing issues of transparency and accountability to ensure that the state and its people too benefit from the proceeds of the gold and other precious stones, frustrations will continue to lead many jobless youths to carry arms and that no amount of measures or use of force can guarantee security of lives and properties of the people as long as the people are becoming aware and enlightened about how rich their state is and how such resources are being diverted by the privileged few.

Governor Matawalle, they insisted, is very much aware of all the atrocities and illegal activities at the mining sites.

They said as a democrat that hitherto enjoys the support of most of those that are currently criticising him and rating him low, his primary concern should be using such natural resources for the good of the people and to ensure that nobody takes everything as has been the case today.

So far, Mr. Matawalle has succeeded in creating fears amongst virtually all his appointees. Members of the Executive Council apart from the likes of the Commissioner of Finance were rendered redundant and mostly acts as figure heads. Apart from about two people nobody dares to call the Governor on phone even where there is emergency.

In fact, DESERT HERALD can confirm that Mr. Matawalle has blocked the phone calls of even top aides while the duties of the State Executive Council in determining approvals and priority projects has been rendered a mere formality as Matawalle according to some EXCO members that spoke to DESERT HERALD on condition of anonymity usually singlehandedly determines and approved everything while supervising miniseries did not have option than to comply and process approvals.

Even as cases and instances of illegal gold mining is on the increase in the state, Matawalle’s critics lamented that in Zamfara today and under the watch of the incumbent Governor, members of the Hausa Movie Industry otherwise known as Kannywood especially the top and popular actresses in the industry enjoys the largesse of the Governor more than the members of his own party and those that help him during his journey to the Government House, Gusau.

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