A leading figure in the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Zamfara State governorship candidate, Dr. Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, has strongly refuted allegations that Governor Dauda Lawal obtained a ₦34 billion loan to fund developmental projects in the state.
In a statement issued on Monday, Shinkafi dismissed the accusation as “a figment of the opposition’s fertile imagination,” accusing rival politicians of deliberately spreading misinformation to derail the governor’s transformation agenda.
Despite his party affiliation, Shinkafi lauded the governor’s achievements, describing them as “massive, impressive, and unprecedented,” particularly in infrastructure, healthcare, education, and security.
He emphasised that Governor Lawal had set Zamfara State on a path of tangible progress, highlighting the facelift of the state capital, Gusau, and its transition from a rural town to a thriving administrative and commercial centre.
According to Shinkafi, the governor’s projects — including the near-complete Gusau International Cargo Airport and extensive township road construction — have positioned Zamfara as a commercial hub in the North West.
He applauded Lawal’s all-encompassing development strategy, noting that all 14 local government areas have witnessed simultaneous transformation, turning the entire state into a vast project site.
On social services, Shinkafi pointed to the comprehensive upgrade of all general hospitals, civil service reforms, the construction and equipping of 500 schools, and the sponsorship of national examination fees for students.
The former APC candidate also acknowledged the governor’s strides in higher education, including the upgrade of the Zamfara State University and the acquisition of the Islamic University in Shinkafi.
Further achievements cited include market and motor park rehabilitation, procurement of 50 state-run buses, renovation of traditional Emir palaces, and the provision of 200 vehicles to bolster security operations.
Describing the governor’s leadership as “pragmatic, innovative, and compassionate,” Shinkafi referenced former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s recent commendation of Lawal during the commissioning of several projects.
He stressed that good governance transcends political affiliations, saying, “The interest of the state supersedes parochial political considerations.”
Shinkafi also endorsed Governor Lawal for a second term, citing equity and the need for continuity, as Lawal is the first governor from Zamfara Central Senatorial District since the return to democracy in 1999.
He called on all political stakeholders and citizens to support the governor’s ongoing mission to ensure peace, development, and prosperity in Zamfara.
“With improved security, resumption of farming, revival of commercial activities, and sustained infrastructural growth, Zamfara State is clearly on the road to greatness,” he concluded.
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