Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has boldly alleged that President Bola Tinubu-led administration has been dolling out N500 billion as palliatives to governors of states controlled by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as well as governors who defected to the party.
Lawal who disclosed this in an interview with Radio DW Hausa on Tuesday, lamented that his state had not received any of such federal government intervention funds since he assumed office in 2023 just because he has refused to defect to the ruling party.
In the interview, Lawal claimed the reason for the exclusion of his state from the palliative funds was because he belongs to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“The Federal Government has never disbursed any intervention fund to Zamfara State unlike other states,” he stated.
“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.”
Lawal however, maintained that despite the alleged lack of additional federal support, his administration continued to execute projects across the state.
“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 stressed that his administration had not taken any new loans to run the state, noting that the state was still servicing debts incurred by the previous administration without borrowing money.
“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.”
He also vowed never to betray the PDP on whose platform he was elected to be governor by defecting to the APC.
“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.”
