Matawalle denies embezzling billions from abandoned Zamfara Cargo Airport

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Former Governor of Zamfara State, Alhaji Mohammed Bello Matawalle has denied embezzling billions of Naira from the abandoned Cargo Airport in Zamfara State.
The incumbent administration of Governor Dauda Lawal Dare had recently, accused the administration of Bello Matawalle of embezzling public funds in billions.
However, in a statement issued by Ibrahim Dosara, former Commissioner of information of the immediate past administration of Governor Bello Mohammed Matawallen yesterday in Kaduna said the accusation was nothing but calculated mischief and diversionary tactics of Governor Dauda Lawal as ”he specializes in diverting peoples attention from his insensitivity, failure, and inability to fulfil his campaign promises on tackling security concerns bedeviling the state immediately after he assumes office.”
According to the statement, ” the attention of the immediate past Government of Zamfara State under Hon (Dr) Bello Mohammed Matawllen Maradun MFR, has been drawn to a press statement issued by Governor Dauda Lawal Dare in which the Governor accuses the immediate past administration of former Gov Matawalle of embezzling public funds in billions.
“It is in response to this baseless claim and allegation, and to put matters on record in their true perspective, that I wish to submit the following facts on the cargo Airport project contract:-The immediate past Government under Hon. Bello Mohammed Matawallen Maradun inherited the Cargo Airport Project from its predecessor.
“As government is a continuous process, former Gov Matawalle saw the need to consider completing the project for its numerous benefits to the people of the state and beyond. I want to bring to the attention of the general public that it is only Zamfara State that has no an Airport of its own, up to the time of this press statement.”
“After due deliberations in council, it was agreed that the project be continued. As a follow-up to the state Executive Council’s resolution and decision on the project, contractors were invited to bid for the contract to execute the Cargo Airport Project.
“After reaching an agreement and in consultation with the Federal Airport Authority the Matawalle government immediately mobilized the contractors to site to handle the project to its timely completion.”
“In the first instance, a bill of 28, 000, 000, 000 ( Twenty-eight Billion Naira ) was submitted to the government for consideration. However, due to the foresight and prudence of the former Gov Matawalle, his government rejected the bill, which the former Gov considered outrageous and crazy.
“The former Gov, therefore insisted that the amount be down reviewed to a considerable sum, which was downsized to 11, 000, 000, 000 (Eleven Billion Naira only).
“For those who are unaware of the funding process of this project, let me bring it to your knowledge that the project was being funded through a banking arrangement known as “Contract financing”.