I’ve yet to benefit from Tinubu’s N500bn largesse to governors – Gov. Lawal

Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has alleged that the administration of President Bola Tinubu is disbursing about N500 billion in intervention funds to governors of the All Progressives Congress, APC, claiming that Zamfara has not benefited from such support.

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Mr Lawal made the allegation during an interview with Radio DW Hausa on Tuesday.

The governor, who is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, said Zamfara had not received any special federal intervention funds since he assumed office in 2023.

“The Federal Government has never disbursed any intervention fund to Zamfara State unlike other states. 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,” Mr Lawal said.

He maintained that aside from the statutory monthly allocations due to the state, no extra financial support had been provided by the Federal Government.

“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 stated.

Despite what he described as a lack of additional federal support, Lawal said his administration had continued to implement development projects across Zamfara.

The governor also disclosed that his government had not obtained any new loans since assuming office, noting that the state was still servicing debts incurred by the previous administration.

“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 said.

Amid ongoing internal challenges within the PDP, Mr Lawal ruled out defecting to another political party.

“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,” he said.

“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,” the governor added.