David Akachukwu
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The Save Zamfara Coalition (SZC) has delivered a firm ultimatum to Governor Dauda Lawal, urging him to acknowledge the newly chosen leadership of the Zamfara State House of Assembly or face potential consequences that could further destabilize the state’s political climate.
This warning follows a recent turn of events in the assembly, where ten legislators who had been suspended in February 2024 regrouped in Gusau. During their session, they selected a new Speaker and demanded that the 2025 budget be resubmitted for review.
These lawmakers, drawn from various constituencies within Zamfara, voiced serious concerns over rising insecurity, alleged economic mismanagement, and what they claimed was a calculated move to undermine the autonomy of the legislative arm.
In a joint statement, Comrade Haruna Mohammed, President of the coalition, and Mallam Shagari Ibn Nazir, Secretary General, praised the actions of the lawmakers. They described the move to elect Bashir Aliyu Gummi as the new Speaker as a bold stand against what they termed “executive tyranny.”
The statement read, “These lawmakers are the true defenders of democracy. After enduring months of harassment, mental torture and calculated humiliation, they have reclaimed the soul of our parliament from the grip of a governor desperate to silence opposition and erase accountability,” the statement reads.
“For too long, the Assembly under the previous leadership served as a rubber stamp, pushing through anti-people policies, shielding executive excesses, and turning its back on the very constituents that elected them. That charade is over. Zamfara now has a new speaker — chosen by the majority — and the governor has no choice but to comply.”
The coalition emphasised that the decision of the ten lawmakers was not just lawful, but morally imperative in the face of what it called “the systematic destruction of democratic institutions in the state”.
“Let it be clear: the election of Hon. Bashir Gummi as Speaker follows due parliamentary process. Any refusal by Governor Lawal to recognise this leadership amounts to a constitutional breach one that will be resisted by every legal and civil means available to us,” it said.
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The group also took aim at the governor’s recent policies, including allegations of mass dismissals of public servants and selective governance that they claim have alienated large segments of the population.
“Governor Dauda Lawal must understand that the House of Assembly is not an extension of the Government House. It is an independent arm of government empowered by the constitution to act as a check on the executive, not a cheering crowd for the governor.
“Governor Lawal has governed with arrogance, impunity and contempt for the rule of law. From unjustly sacking workers, turning a blind eye to the security threats in the state, to manipulating the Assembly through backdoor deals. Enough is enough!” The group stated.
The coalition commended the new leadership of the assembly for demanding the resubmission of the 2025 budget, noting that such an act reflects a return to the path of transparency and accountability.
“Revisiting the 2025 budget is a necessary step. It’s not about confrontation, it’s about ensuring that the fiscal direction of the state is properly scrutinised and reflects the needs of the people, not the preferences of a few individuals.
“We’re not making empty threats. If the governor continues to act as though he is above the constitution, we will treat him as such through mass resistance, civil disobedience and judicial confrontation. No single man is greater than the parliament,” the coalition added.
“This is not a Zamfara Assembly issue; it is about the future of democracy in Nigeria. The moment a governor can dictate who leads the legislature, democracy collapses into dictatorship. This must be rejected by all Nigerians.
“These men have earned their place in history. They stood when it was dangerous to stand. They spoke when others chose silence. They acted when many had lost hope. We salute their courage, and we stand firmly behind them,” it said.
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Jonathan Nwokpor
