Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara says he is touched that a group in Zamfara has resolved to help him continue in 2023.

A coalition of 102 groups on Friday handed Mr Matawalle a N50 million cheque to buy the expression of interest and nomination forms of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The cheque was received by the Acting Governor, Senator Hassan Nasiha, in Gusau.

Mr Matawalle’s appreciation is contained in a statement issued on Friday in Gusau by Zailani Bappa, his Special Adviser on Public Enlightenment, Media and Communications.

Mr Bappa said the coalition, also known as ZAMFARA DECIDES, gave the governor the cheque to enable him to seek re-election in the 2023 gubernatorial election.

According to the statement, Mr Matawalle heard of the coalition’s move while he was performing Umrah (Lesser Hajj) in Saudi Arabia about a fortnight ago.

“I am touched that Zamfara people will pre-empt my efforts and ensure they draft me into the primaries on their own volition.

“I want to assure you that I will not fail our dear state in whatever the people wished me to be.

“This singular act indicates your position as to the efforts we have been making to reposition our state onto the path of peace and progress,” Mr Matawalle was quoted to have said.

Mr Bappa said the governor assured the people that he would not fail in his bid to rejuvenate the state.

While presenting the cheque, the leader of the group, Surajo Haske, said they took the decision to support Mr Matawalle in his reelection bid.

Mr Haske said the decision to support the governor was informed by his massive development strides in the last three years and which had restored peace to the state.

“He has repositioned the state on the path of solid infrastructural development and economic emancipation,“ Mr Haske said in the statement.

(NAN)