Former Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Lawal Daura, has said his decision to step into partisan politics is driven by a determination to stem the tide of insecurity threatening lives and livelihoods in Katsina State.
Daura spoke on Thursday in Katsina at a reunion organised by the Government College Funtua Old Boys Association (FOBA), Class of 1969, where he framed his political ambition as a rescue mission rather than a quest for power.
Describing himself as a “politics mechanic”, the former intelligence chief said the analogy captured the gravity of the challenge confronting the state. According to him, the presence of a mechanic signals a fault that must be urgently fixed.
He argued that insecurity sits at the heart of Katsina’s difficulties, insisting that meaningful development would remain elusive unless safety is restored. In his view, security is the master key that unlocks solutions to economic and social problems.
Daura recalled that commercial activity in parts of the state once thrived into the night, a reality he said has been erased by fear, with many markets now struggling to operate even during daylight hours. He added that farming, the economic mainstay of Katsina and neighbouring states, has been badly disrupted by violence and criminality.
Distancing himself from accusations of personal ambition, Daura said his past public service eclipsed the attraction of any elective office. He maintained that neither wealth nor status motivated his move, noting that his career had already afforded him national and international recognition.
Rather, he said, persistent reports of killings, human rights violations and the daily hardship faced by ordinary citizens compelled him to act. These, he stressed, are not distant stories but lived realities in communities across the state.
Daura expressed appreciation to his former classmates for their early backing, describing their support as a source of encouragement. He projected confidence that, with divine support and collective effort, his mission would succeed.
In his remarks, FOBA Chairman, Alhaji Dr Aliyu Yahaya, said Daura’s extensive background in security management gives him a comparative advantage in confronting Katsina’s challenges. He pledged that members of the association would mobilise strong grassroots support for Daura, assuring that each member would rally significant votes should he clinch the governorship ticket of any political party.
