EMPTY CANONS AND POLITICS OF VENDETTA.

By Zailani Bappa

Politics, is another game of chess. It requires intellect, foresight, pre-emption, wits and comportment. A rash, hasty and non-calculative politician does not thrive. Most successful politicians have a mind of their own and know when to strike and also when to remain still.

Recent events in Zamfara State is fast separating grains from the chaff in the field of politics. A scenario was created, unique in Nigerian political experience, where winners proved to be losers in a twinkle of an eye. The state has persistently been whipped silly by a consistent class of politicians whose arrogance landed them in a pit of political hell and in the same turn of event, Bello Muhammad was catapulted into blaze of glory by fiat of providence.

Hence, those who lost have become wild and acutely desperate. In their swipe rampage and vengeance, they tactically lure the fiddle minded and weak in political vision to turn their backs on the emerging glory now in dominance in the political landscape of the state.

In quick succession, a confidant of His Excellency, Governor Bello Muhammad, Alhaji Jamilu Aliyu, whom he graciously made his campaign Director and supported him in all ways imaginable, and later offered him the slot of a Cabinet member, rejected the offer via a media message, ostensibly to embarrass His Excellency and, on his own part, soar up his political rating in the state. He goofed big time. 

Next, a close relative of His Excellency, whom the Governor dusted up and cleaned for better home responsibilities in the person of Lawwali Izala, fell to the beckon of the losers to use his only weapon of being blood relation of the Governor to gauge out a lot of rubbish, a ranting of a glorified political nonenetity but only known to those who know.

Now, a seemingly high profile politician who, in fact, is an empty canon, Alhaji Bakauye, was trumpeted as additional loss to the Party of His Excellency, Governor Bello Muhammad. They tout him as a contestant against the Governor in the last PDP primary, but failed to say he garnered only 5 votes in the primary elections, a fact that point to his near total irrelevance in the Party. 

Now, we have said so much before on these developments. We have no more to say on these issues again other than those who attempted to disrespect His Excellency by going to the media to gauge out rubbish have done it for themselves. We may not have seen the end of this type of desperate gimmicks, but those who live by politics of vendetta will certainly continue to end in penury. Today, the citizens in Zamfara State have all united in common pursuit for the goals and aspirations they so much cherish, which the administration of Bello Muhammad is excellently translating for them into undisputable reality.

GOVERNOR MATAWALLE WOOS CHINESE INVESTORS

Governor Bello Mohammed (Matawallen Maradun) has wooed Chinese investors with mouth watering incentives to invest in the solid minerals sector of the state for a win-win partnership.

He gave the open beckon when he addressed business moguls in that Country at the  China Congress on Mineral Resources And Material Whole Industry Chain summit held in Beijing today.

Governor Bello Mohammed told the prospective investors of the special opportunities awaiting them in the solid mineral sector of the state, pointing out that 50% of the 34 minerals listed on Nigerian soil are found in Zamfara State.

The Governor revealed to them such minerals found in Zamfara as gold, zinc, columbine, silver, gypsum, limestone, copper, tantalite and barite among others. All these minerals, he said, have mining fields scattered across the state without sophistication and the technological standard to give maximum benefit.

The Governor lamented, for instance, that in the last 100 years, the gold mined in the state did not exceed 91,000kg

"I am therefore delighted to invite the Chinese business community to take the advantage of our friendly business environment, and limitless potentials in mineral resources, to deploy your capital and modern machinery to Zamfara State for investing into our mining sector. My administration is resolutely committed to partnering with investors from the Peoples’ Republic of China to develop the key sector of our economy", Governor Matawalle proposed.

The Governor then revealed to the prospective investors the excellent provision of protection laws by the Nigerian state and added that his administration will provide added incentives to the investors if they decided to invest in the state. 

Governor Matawalle will continue with his interaction with the business community in Beijing tomorrow. 

Zailani Bappa

Special Adviser, Public Enlightenment, Media and Communications 

23/12/2019

ZAMFARA STATE GOVERNMENT REVOKES THREE UNCOMPLETED CONTRACTS

Zamfara State Government under the able leadership of His Excellency Governor Bello Matawalle has revoked three uncompleted contracts two of which were awarded to Chinese Company Zhonghao.

In a statement by the Commissioner of Works and Transport, Alhaji Ibrahim Isah Mayana after the first inaugural meeting with the governor, said the contracts on electrification and construction of motorized boreholes awarded in 2013 and 2018 were revoked as a result of the projects' snail pace despite the huge money remitted to the contractors.

Going into details, the commissioner disclosed that the sum of ₦22,599,773,794.29 as part payment from total cost of the contract ₦25,992,654,151.90 was paid for electrication project across the 14 Local Government Areas since 2013 but the progress reached no further than 67% while ₦19,386,355,157.00 from the total cost of ₦27,595, 232,442.20 was paid to China Zhonghao for 84 Boreholes (Phase I) in 2013 and the progress stands at 75%.

In 2018, another contract for 84 more boreholes at the total cost of ₦27,694,468,789.00 was awarded to the China Zhonghao Company of which ₦14,477,616,221.00 was paid but the progress so far reached no further than 13%.

The commissioner finally revealed that Governor Bello Matawalle has set up a project verification committee to review the uncompleted contracts and submit report for further decision. The contractors whose contracts have been revoked were required to refund the remaining balance for new contracts with serious companies. 

Ibrahim Bello Zauma 

SSA New Media 

18/12/2019

ZAMFARA SECURITY ISSUE DOMINATES STAKEHOLDERS FORUM MEETING CONVENED BY PASTURAL RESOLVE

In what can be described as turning attention to the plight of Zamfara State by local and international community, the Pastural Resolve (PARE) in collaboration with Search for Common Ground (SFCG), Nexier Center for Democratic Development, Research and Training (CEDDERT) and French Embassy convened a meeting that delved on the theme: *Responding To Challenges of Rural Violence and Insecurity in Zamfara State" in Abuja. 

During the event, the convener who is also one of leading pioneers of the Pastoral Resolve (PARE) Alhaji Abubakar Bobboi Jauro, said that the issues of serious humanitarian need, improved quality of services, heightened and violent crimes, high unemployment and poverty, degraded resources base and week institutions need to be urgently addressed in the Zamfara state. He further stressed the need to increase partnership and cooperation among key institutions at the federal and state levels to proffer solutions to the challenges.

The Commissioner for Security and Home Affairs, Alhaji Abubakar Muhammad Dauran who was ably represented by Director Security Alhaji Musa Liman Shinkafi was accorded the honour to present a paper on the theme. Delivering the paper, Hon Dauran highlighted the measure taken by His Excellency Governor Bello Matawalle to curtail the menace of banditry and the success so far attained. He acknowledged with gratitude the role of key stakeholders in complementing the effort of the government, stressing further the need to maintain the tempo for the sustenance of peace in the state. 

The panel of discussants who addressed the challenges of rural violence and insecurity in Zamfara State were Professor Tukur Baba, Dr. Abubakar Siddique (CEDERT), Brig. Gen Saleh Bala, Malam Musa Ahmad Bungudu and Ibrahim Bello Zauma. Part of the strong delegation from Zamfara who graced the occasion were Gazali Shehu Ahmad, Special Adviser on Strategy and Development and the Faika Muhammad Ahmad, Special Adviser, Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management and Umar Muhammad Maradun, PARE Coordinator, Zamfara State. The interactive discussion finally ensued and the communique would be delivered in due course. 

Ibrahim Bello Zauma 

SSA New Media 

17/12/2019

MATAWALLE WARNS MISCHIEF MAKERS

It has come to the notice of His Excellency, Governor Bello Mohammed (Matawallen Maradun) that some mischievous persons in the state are alluding the arrest of offenders to his person, or his office, or both.

In a statement released by the Special Adviser on Public Enlightenment, Media and Communications, Alhaji Zailani Bappa said that His Excellency wishes to draw the attention of all and sundry that he has no hands in the arrest of any offender within and outside the state.

"Anyone who finds himself in collusion course with the law should courageously face his travails with the law of the land and desist from blame game on the office of the Governor", Matawalle warned.

"The Police and, indeed, all other Security operatives are not my property, nor are they working for my personal interest but for the well being of Zamfara State and Nigeria as a whole ", the Governor further observed.

It has been a while now that after the attainment of peace in the state, some  enemies of the state and Nigeria have indulged themselves in making inflammatory statements and sometimes actions aimed at reversing the hands of the clock.

"Those arrested and taken to court willingly broke the law and are apprehended by the law, not by Governor Matawalle. They should be courageous enough to own up their mischief and defend themselves before the law" the Governor advised.

GOVERNOR BELLO MATAWALLE BAGS ANOTHER PRESTIGIOUS AWARD AS THE GOVERNOR OF THE YEAR

In recognition of his immense contribution in the attainment of peace in Zamfara State, Governor Bello Matawalle has today received a prestigious award as the best governor of the year. 

The Kwararrafa Reporters who awarded the governor said that the decision was taken in recognition of his exceptional leadership and commitment in curtailing the incidence of kidnappings, banditry and other forms of violence in Zamfara State. 

The award was presented to the governor ably represented by His Special Adviser on Public Enlightenment, Media and Communications, Alhaji Zailani Bappa. 

Addressing the gathering during the award night at NBC Century House Abuja, Governor Bello Matawalle recounted how he met the state at the assumption of duty in a very chaotic condition but with the involvement of security stakeholders in series of meetings, the path to peace has been paved and the first dose of peace and serenity has been tasted for the first time in more than seven years. Despite the few hiccups here and there, relative peace has been sustained. 

Ibrahim Bello Zauma 

SSA New Media 

8/12/2019

GOVERNOR MATAWALLE SENDS STRONG WARNING TO SENATOR OKOROCHA

Governor Bello Muhammad (Matawallen Maradun)sends a strong  warning to Senator Rochas Okorocha to desist from insulting the North, especially on the floor of the exalted Chamber.

Governor Matawalle equally demanded the Senator to apologise to the people of the North over his unguarded utterances on the educational status of the North which has gone viral in the social media.

The Governor noted that the North may be educationally behind other parts of the country, but it was insulting to portray the zone in the manner Senator Okorocha did.

In a statement released by Special Adviser on Media and Public Enlightenment to the governor, Matawalle said the Northern Governors are especially concerned on the improvement of educational sector. In Zamfara State. For instance, the Governor has budgeted 19% of the total budget for the 2020 fiscal year for the educational sector. 

Since his assumption of office, Governor Bello Muhammad has settled SSCE fees to the tune of over 700 million and is sending  200 boys and girls to study medical sciences and engineering abroad. The state government is equally building 700 classroom blocks for the basic educational sector and renovation over 300 in addition to improvement of teachers welfare. 

The Governor then warned Senator Okorocha to be mindful of his unguarded statements that prick on people's sentiments especially the North that brought him up. 

GOVERNOR BELLO MATAWALLE FLAGS OFF FOREIGN UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP FOR ZAMFARA STUDENTS

In fulfillment of his promise to sponsor students for foreign undergraduate scholarship, Governor Bello Matawalle has today flagged off the commencement of the scholarship offered for the 200 screened students the first batch of which will take off on Monday 2nd December, 2019.

Governor Bello Matawalle who was ably represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Bala Bello Maru, congratulated beneficiaries of the sponsorship under his administration's Foreign Scholarship Scheme. He disclosed that the scholarship will cover various academic programmes in the fields of science and engineering in different countries. This includes thirty (30) students who will study in India, fifty (50) in Sudan, another fifty (50) in China, and Seventy (70) in Cyprus. In his words "These awards recognize the candidate's potential to contribute to the development of their communities in the near future." 

Earlier, the Special Adviser to the Governor, on Scholarship Matters, Luqman Majidadi said that the beneficiaries were selected after several rigorous screening, interviews and other assessment process. He urged the students to be good ambassadors of the State and Nigeria while in their respective institutions outside the country.

Majidadi said that the gesture is one of the policies of the present administration of Gov. Bello Matawalle on education.

“You should consider this gesture by the State Government as a great opportunity for you, you should embrace your studies with seriousness’’. 

The occasion was graced by the Principal Personal Secretary Alhaji Abubakar Ja'afar, the Scholarship Programme Consultant Jazuli Musa, the party chairman ably represented by Alhaji Faruk Shattiman Rijiya, Distinguished Senator Hassan Nasiha, media personnel and other government dignitaries. 

Ibrahim Bello Zauma 

SSA New Media 

1st Dec. 2019

http://bit.ly/2Y2Q10A