News Editor
By Steven Kefas
In what many Nigerians believe to be an attempt to influence his re-election in 2023, Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara on Wednesday flagged off the distribution of 260 Cadillac SUV vehicles to traditional rulers in the state.
The expensive luxury vehicles includes; 2019 model of brand new Cadillac escalade SUVs with market value of about N40 million (US$96,990) per unit for 17 Emirs, 13 Senior District Heads and 230 District Heads.
Zamfara state is among the most dangerous state to live in Nigeria. Thousands of people have been killed by terrorists in the last decade while thousands have been displaced, abducted, maimed, raped and incapacitated.
A 2021 report by the National Social Registry (NSR) adjudged Zamfara state to have the highest number of poor and vulnerable people in Nigeria, with a record of 3,836,484 people from 825,337 households. The figure had only gotten worse owing to the heightening insecurity in the state. Hundreds of thousands of people have had their sources of livelihood including farming destroyed by terrorists activities.
The state government under Matawalle has done little or nothing to improve the standard of living of the people.
In Gusau the state capital for instance, children between the ages of 5 and above could be seen loitering the city begging for alms from motorists and other passersby.
During a visit to the ancient city in January 2022, at the gate of the government House, I saw lots of bowl-carrying young children begging for alms. I asked my tour guide, Suleiman, what was happening, and he said to me “they are waiting for visitors to the government House to give them money or food.” That is how far poverty has eaten into the fabric of the state.
In the compound where I lived with my aunty for 4 nights, a 75 year old man with wife and children works as guard for N8,000 monthly salary. Yes you heard me right, N8,000. I asked my aunt what would N8,000 do for such an old man with two wives and several children. She said to me “Son, this is Zamfara, if Baba resigns today, many will gladly take over the job”.
In Gusau, there are more political billboards of the governor than public hospitals and schools. Billboards of different sizes and shapes are erected allover the city advertising the governor for re-election.
At the SUVs distribution event flagged off by the Sultan of Sokoto, Matawalle said the gesture of gifting the traditional rulers the expensive SUVs was in recognition of the role of traditional institutions in maintaining peace in the state.
“As we are all aware, the role of traditional rulers in fostering national unity, safeguarding our values, and serving as moral compass for our society cannot be over emphasised.
“As premier leaders in our communities, traditional rulers play key roles in resolving conflicts and in assisting government to provide fatherly advice to their subjects in the interest of promoting peace and harmony.
“As our leaders, we would stay steadfastly committed to providing for your welfare, safety and any essential support that will allow you to carry out your duties without incident and with bigger successes,’’ Matawalle said.
One would wonder, what peace was Governor Matawalle referring to when the reality on ground says otherwise.
Governor Matawalle no doubt understands the importance of traditional rulers especially in Northern Nigeria where they wield so much power and control over their subjects during elections and beyond and therefore has cashed in timely.
While the traditional rulers cruise their newly gifted SUVs, they must have it at the back of their minds that a hungry man is an angry man anyday. They must also understand that it is just a matter of time before the poor and traumatized Zamfara masses revolt and demand for their fair share of the national cake.
