Jelili Gbadamosi
Former Director-General of the Department of State Services, DSS, Lawal Daura, has revealed that concerns over worsening insecurity in Katsina State were a major factor behind his decision to seek the state’s governorship.
Daura, who is now the vice-presidential candidate of the All Progressives Movement, APM, disclosed this on Monday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
According to him, his decision to contest was largely influenced by appeals from elders and other stakeholders in Katsina State, who believed his experience in national security could help address the growing security challenges confronting the state.
The former DSS boss said the governorship ambition was not initially his personal plan, stressing that he only considered the race after repeated requests from people in the state.
“Normally, politicians say they have been asked, but in my own case, it was truly the case of being asked to come,” Daura said.
He explained that the situation became particularly concerning as Katsina continued to face increasing insecurity, prompting elders to question why he would remain outside the state’s political leadership despite his experience in handling security matters at the national level.
Daura said the elders eventually encouraged him to purchase the nomination form and contest the governorship election.
He added that responding to the request of his people was part of his commitment to them and did not diminish his standing or identity.
The former DSS director-general also spoke about his decision to leave the African Democratic Congress, ADC, saying he became uncomfortable with what he described as a lack of effective leadership within the party.
Daura argued that without proper leadership, discipline could suffer and organisational objectives might become difficult to achieve.
“Where there is no leadership, by my training, there is not likely to be discipline. And if there is no discipline, there is no way organisational goals can be accomplished,” he said.
