Zamfara Chamber: Galadima Backs Court Order, Commends Tafida

By Babangida Abdullahi, Gusau

The Acting President of the Zamfara State Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ZACCIMA), Alhaji Abubakar Chika Galadima, has assured members that all eligible and registered members will have equal opportunity to contest for leadership positions in the organisation.

Galadima gave the assurance yesterday at a press briefing in Gusau, the Zamfara State capital, where he also appealed for calm and urged members to abide by the chamber’s rules and regulations.

He said the leadership would ensure fairness, transparency and equal treatment of members, stressing that no eligible member would be prevented from contesting any position.

The acting president said his emergence followed due process and was based on a directive of the Federal High Court.

He maintained that the state government had no authority to determine who should lead or manage the affairs of the chamber, noting that ZACCIMA had its own laws, rules and procedures.

Galadima commended the immediate past president of the chamber, Alhaji Hassan Buhari Tafida, for respecting the court order and handing over the affairs of the organisation to the new leadership and its Director-General.

He also praised Governor Dauda Lawal for what he described as his respect for the rule of law and commitment to supporting traders and other business operators in the state.

According to him, the governor has demonstrated genuine interest in improving the welfare of members of the business community, particularly through the loan initiative designed to support traders.

Galadima urged traders and other business operators across the state to remain calm and law-abiding, warning against taking the law into their own hands.

He said disagreements or grievances should not be used as justification for disobeying a valid court order.

The acting president also appealed to members to disregard claims that Governor Lawal had failed to act on the proposed loan programme.

“We are not part of those saying that we are waiting for the governor on the issue of the loan. Any right-thinking person is not supposed to make such a statement against a leader who has shown genuine intention to support the business community,” he said.

Galadima assured members that the loan programme remained in place, adding that the new leadership would work within its mandate to ensure that qualified beneficiaries accessed the funds.

He explained that the loan was not meant to be given directly to the chamber or the Commissioner for Commerce, but would be administered through a bank.

According to him, the chamber’s responsibility is to screen applicants and ensure that beneficiaries have the capacity to repay the loans, while the bank would make direct disbursements to successful applicants.

He reiterated that all eligible members would be treated fairly and without sentiment under the programme.

However, Galadima appealed to Governor Lawal to caution the Commissioner for Commerce against actions that could create confusion over the loan programme.

He particularly expressed concern over meetings with different groups which, he alleged, could create tension and potentially lead to a breach of law and order.

The acting president urged traders to remain patient, assuring them that the chamber was committed to ensuring that the loan reached the intended beneficiaries.

He reiterated his commitment to fairness, transparency and equal treatment in the administration of the chamber.