By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa
The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has officially welcomed Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, into the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing the move as a pivotal moment for the state’s political landscape.
In a statement released on Monday via his social media platform, Matawalle hailed Governor Lawal’s departure from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling party as a timely and historic decision, not only for Zamfara but for the nation at large.
The former governor of Zamfara extended a warm welcome to his successor, framing the development as a homecoming and an opportunity for renewed collaboration. He emphasized that the state’s pressing challenges, particularly its security crises, now demand a collective and unified approach from all its leaders.
“As we welcome a friend and brother, the Executive Governor of Zamfara State, His Excellency, Dauda Lawal, into our great party, the APC, Zamfara State now needs the collective commitment of all of us to confront and address our challenges, especially insecurity,” Matawalle stated.
He positioned the defection as a strategic reinforcement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s national agenda. “Governor Dauda is now part of a progressive family. Therefore, we warmly welcome him into this fold so that we can support him and work together with all our strengths to ensure a more secure, safe, and prosperous Zamfara State,” he added.
Matawalle praised President Tinubu’s political philosophy, which he said encourages collaboration over conflict. “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has shown that politics is not war but the art of building bridges across rivers of differences,” the Minister remarked.
Expressing a personal commitment to the newly forged unity, Matawalle characterized the governor’s entry into the APC as a reunion with a long-time ally. “For me, this is a political reunion with my friend and brother. We are a family united by the shared belief that Nigeria can, and must, work for all citizens,” he said.
He pledged to work closely with Governor Lawal to realize their shared vision for the state. “As a true progressive, I will support His Excellency, Dauda Lawal, in pursuing our collective vision for a more secure and prosperous Zamfara State,” Matawalle affirmed.
The Minister concluded by calling on all APC members in Zamfara to unite behind the new leadership structure and begin mobilizing support in preparation for the 2027 general elections.
Echoing this sentiment, the Zamfara State chapter of the APC officially welcomed the governor. In a statement, the party’s Publicity Secretary, Yusuf Idris Gusau, assured Governor Lawal of the party’s full backing as it consolidates its position and strategizes for victory in the upcoming polls.
