By Muhammad Mamman
In a development drawing attention within Zamfara’s political landscape, Dauda Lawal, the governor of Zamfara State, was seen meeting with former governor Abdul’aziz Yari in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, where both men shared the Ramadan iftar meal on Thursday.
The meeting comes shortly after Lawal’s reported defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), a political development that has sparked fresh conversations about alliances and realignments in the north-western Nigerian state.
Sources familiar with the encounter said the two political figures met in a cordial atmosphere during the holy month of Ramadan, a period when Muslims across the world observe fasting from dawn to sunset and often gather for iftar — the evening meal that breaks the fast.
Images circulating online showed the governor and the former senator seated together during the meal in the holy city, widely regarded as the spiritual centre of Islam.
While neither camp immediately released an official statement detailing the purpose of the meeting, political observers say the encounter may signal an attempt to ease long-standing political tensions and foster dialogue between influential figures in Zamfara politics.
Lawal and Yari have been key actors in the state’s political arena over the past decade, with their camps often positioned on opposing sides of the divide.
Analysts say their meeting during Ramadan — a time traditionally associated with reconciliation, reflection and unity — could carry symbolic significance as political dynamics in the state continue to evolve.
