Ola Olukoyede, chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has commended Dauda Lawal, governor of Zamfara, saying his administration’s transformative strides are evident across the state.
In a statement issued on Friday, Sulaiman Idris,
spokesperson to the governor of Zamfara, said the EFCC chairman spoke during
the 30th anniversary of the state held at the government house in Gusau.
Olukoyede said he had
carried out due diligence on Zamfara and the governor before accepting the
invitation to speak at the event, given the peculiar nature of his office.
“By virtue of the ethical demands of my office, I don’t
attend political events; I don’t go to the Government House as a matter of
principle,” he said.
“But when I received this invitation, something told me to
accept and see what was going on there.
“I did a little due diligence on His Excellency and the
state. I saw when the state was created and noticed the drastic change over the
past three years.”
Olukoyede said he sought President Bola Tinubu’s approval to
attend the anniversary after his research left him satisfied with the state’s
progress.
“My acceptance to be with you today stems from two distinct
realities: first, my professional engagements rarely bring me to this vibrant
part of the nation because my office is based in Abuja,” he said.
The EFCC chairman said although it was his first visit to
Zamfara, the new airport built by Lawal’s administration was one of the first
things that caught his attention on arrival in Gusau, the state capital.
“It is noticeable even to first-time visitors,” he said.
“The capital city speaks of visible transformation, as we
have seen. Newly paved roads align with street solar lights.”
Olukoyede said Zamfara had over the years “unfortunately
ranked near the bottom, not for lack of natural allure, but because the
perception of rigid social tendencies overshadowed its immense natural
potential”.
He noted that although Gusau became a state capital in 1996,
its transformation had been gradual.
“For years, despite the efforts of previous governors,
Zamfara remained among the country’s less-developed states,” he said.
“However, today, the contemporary outlook is shifting;
indeed, the physical evolution of Gusau serves as a powerful metaphor for the
broader Zamfara State.
“I am incredibly encouraged to learn that Zamfara has
steadily improved its performance in critical national examinations like NECO
and WAEC. Public infrastructure is expanding, positively impacting people’s
daily lives.
“These strides are rightfully attributed to the
consolidation of the deliberate reform initiatives and align perfectly with the
theme of today’s celebration titled ‘accountability and responsibility in
transformational government’.
“Despite the ethical standards of the office I occupied, it
will take a serious-minded, committed democrat, a transparent governor, to have
the temerity and audacity to bring the Chairman of the EFCC to address the
people of the state.”
The governor said the anniversary theme, “Reflections,
achievements, and the future,” was designed to examine the challenges that had
shaped the state’s experience and consider what leaders must do to secure a
better future.
He said the commemoration had provided an opportunity for
intellectual engagement beyond the anniversary celebrations.
“I’m pleased this commemoration has fostered serious
intellectual engagement beyond ceremony. Today’s papers address key government
responsibilities: public accountability, community involvement in tackling
insecurity, preserving our history and culture, and linking security with
socio-economic development,” Lawal said.
The governor said the discussions aligned with his
administration’s six-point rescue agenda and the Zamfara state development plan
2025–2034, which provides a long-term roadmap for the state’s development.
“At the same time, the Zamfara state development plan
2025–2034 provides a long-term roadmap for the economy, infrastructure, social
welfare, human capital, governance and environmental sustainability,” he said.
“We must turn these commitments into measurable improvements
in people’s lives.”
Lawal appreciated the presenters, discussants, organising
committee and other participants for their contributions to the anniversary
lecture.
Other notable speakers at the anniversary lecture included
Tijjani Muhammad Bande, Sulaiman Kura, Murtala Rufai and Taofik Aminu, among
others.
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