Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has alleged that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is dolling out N500 billion to states controlled by governors who are members of the ruling All Progressives Congress.
In an interview with Radio DW Hausa, Mr Lawal lamented that his state had not received any federal intervention funds since he assumed office in 2023.
He suggested that the reason for his exclusion from the largesse was because he belongs to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.
Mr Lawal said, “The Federal Government has never disbursed any intervention fund to Zamfara State unlike other states. I have it on good authority that some states have received over N500 billion from the Federal Government, but my state has not received a single kobo. I believe it is because I am not in the same party as them. I am in an opposition party.”
Mr Lawal who is the only governor from the North-West geopolitical zone who is not a member of the APC, maintained that despite the alleged lack of additional federal support, his administration continued to execute projects across the state.
He said, “Since I became governor in 2023, if not for the allocation we are entitled to, the Federal Government has not given us any additional intervention. But that has not stopped us from doing our best to execute projects for the betterment of our people.”
He added that his administration had not taken any new loans to run the state, noting that Zamfara State was still servicing debts incurred by the previous administration.
“I have never borrowed any loan to run our state, not even one cent. Every month, N1.2 billion is deducted before the money is sent to us,” Mr Lawal said.
Asked if he was considering dumping the PDP for another party, the governor ruled the possibility of defecting to any political party despite the crisis facing the PDP.
He said, “As a Muslim, I believe only God gives power, no one else. I can’t betray my party just because we have internal issues within it. I will do my best to see the end of this issue we are facing.
“I can’t make that decision alone. I have to consult with my supporters before I can make such a decision. But if PDP is fixed, then there will be no reason for me to move to any party.”
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