DMO: APC exposes Zamfara govt on double standard.

Ahmed Attahir

The All Progressive Congress (APC) in Zamfara state has exposed state government double standard on the issue of Debt management office (DMO), saying state government is playing with citizens intellectual.

In a statement issued on Wednesday evening by the Zamfara state APC publicity secretary Yusuf Idris Gusau revealed that Zamfara people can not be taken for a ride as development has shown that there's actually the sum of N14.26 billion and USD 655.563 belonging to state but stashed somewhere until the DMO exposed it.

The statement reads in part: "It is now almost six months ago, to be exact, on the 8th of September, 2023, that the Zamfara State Commissioner of Information, Mannir Haidara, said the out gone government of Dr Bello Mohammed Matawalle now Minister of State for Defence only left the incoming Dauda Lawal Dare (PDP) government "minimal resources," while the governor himself asserted and affirmed that he was handed over "an empty treasury" by his predecessor".

"Recall that the Dauda-led government also claimed that Matawalle's Cargo Airport project, Gusau, was white elephant but all of these in a sudden turn of events and suspecting that there will very soon be many questions seeking clearcut answers over the recent information by the Debt Management Office (DMO) that some states (including Zamfara) were already struggling in debts less than a year into the administration and the fear that the government would be exposed on the billions left behind by Matawalle".

"Suddenly, the governor's spokesperson came out and shamelessly said his principal has not borrowed any money but that the N14.26 billion captured by the DMO in respect of Zamfara State in the government's possession was actually part of a floating loan earlier acquired by the Matawalle government thereby contradicting the administration's initial claim of having inherited near nothing from Matawalle".

According to him, it should be noted that former governor Matawalle did not fail to collect the total sum of N20 billion on the said loan rather, it was largely due to his carefulness and prudence that he decided to only utilize the funds as the contract progressed.

"Natural circumstances propelled by time are now compelling the Dauda Lawal administration to withdraw its opening statement of lies replacing it with the truth".

"Certainly, Zamfara people can not be taken for a ride as this development has shown that there's actually the sum of N14.26 billion and USD 655.563 belonging to them but stashed somewhere until the DMO exposed them".

The statement further reads "Two things immediately come to light in the developing story, that when the APC and Matawalle's government representatives said they left a lot of money for the incoming Dauda government in their handing over notes, they weren't lying and that it is now known that the state has these yet to be touched billions even if the exchange rate was at N800 against one dollar. Similarly, the government should explain why it perpetually failed to continue with the airport project, having said it was keeping the money for the continuation of the project".

He said , Zamfara APC in keeping with its earlier promise to keep the people abreast of how their resources are being managed, has once again got this right, 'it is left for the people to call out the government to account, starting with the details of the account where the government claimed the untouched money is, we are very sure that these account details will be made public soonest". Statement added.