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A group, Patriots for Peace and Social Development (PPSD), has defended the minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Matawalle, over allegations made against him by Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State in his recent TV interviews, where he allegedly disparaged the character of the minister.
In a statement, Friday, by the executive director of PPSD, Dr Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, the group said that it has become necessary to put the record straight to ensure that members of the public will not be misled and deceived by what he called tissues of lies, political sentiment and power intoxication of the governor who ought to be an embodiment of patriotism.
Shinkafi dismissed any insinuation that Dr Matawalle has any link with bandits in Zamfara State.
“A man of exceptional integrity, Matawalle, a devout Moslem publicly held the Holy Quran in Government House Gusau and swore that he had no link with bandits.
“The Deputy Governor, Commissioners, Special Advisers and Permanent Secretaries also took the same oath. It is unfortunate that Dauda Lawal would be on national television stations to blackmail him with impunity leveraging on his immunity as a serving governor as if being a governor is a licence to insult fellow citizens,” he said.
He noted that Matawalle inherited armed banditry from the government of his predecessor, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, and set out to tackle it head-on adopting kinetic and non-kinetic approaches, which yielded positive results leading to the voluntary surrender of over 5,000 locally made guns, AK47, AK49, rocket launchers, general purpose machine guns and chains of arms and ammunition by repented bandits and defunct Yansakai in the presence of the then Governor Matawalle, security chiefs in Zamfara State, traditional rulers, Islamic scholars etc.
He said that government is a continuum, but, instead of focusing on good governance, Governor Lawal would either junket around the globe seeking elusive investment while the state burns or jump from one television station to another reeling out unfounded allegations against the Minister of State for Defence.
He said, “While in China on a state visit, President Bola Tinubu directed the Minister of State for Defence, Matawalle, the Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa and other top military officers to proceed to Sokoto State to crush banditry in the North West following bandits attacks on military personnel at Kwashabawa in Zurmi Local Government of Zamfara State led by one of the most wanted armed bandits kingpin, Bello Turji and imposition of levies and taxes up to the tune of N50 million to the people of Moriki community in Zurmi Local Government etc.
“The presidential order was in tandem with Section 130(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, which provides that ‘The President shall be the Head of State, the Chief Executive of the Federation and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federation.’ And also, Section 14(2)b of the Constitution, which states that ‘the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.'”
He said it was in compliance with the presidential order, Matawalle and the military chiefs went to Sokoto State using the 8 Division of the Nigerian Army as the Command/Joint Task Force North West, Operation Hadarindaji (JTF NWOPH). “It is this well coordinated military operation that Governor Dauda Lawal went on television to rubbish the Minister of State for Defence, Matawalle that he zoomed in and zoomed out of Sokoto State and went to Kano to share rice, absolutely ignorant of the functions of the Minister of Defence, Chief of Defence Staff and the Federal Executive Council,” he said.
He added that it was evident that Matawalle and the Chief of Defence Staff’s assignment in Sokoto State has yielded positive results following the coordinated operation and military onslaught against one of the wanted armed bandits kingpin in Nigeria and Niger Republic, Kachalla Halilu Sububu who the military neutralised along with members of his group including those who abducted and killed Sarkin Gobir, the District Head of Sabon Birni of Sokoto State, in its operation on Thursday 12th September 2024, from Sububu Forest to Bayanruwa and Mayanchi axis.
“In Katsina State, a notorious bandits kingpin, Wala Baburki who terrorised Kankara, Batsari and Safana in Katsina State was neutralised as well as Zakiru Najamilu, a notorious bandits leader terrorising Maru and Bunjudu rural communities was equally killed in the military operation coordinated by the Chief of Defence Staff and Minister of State for Defence, Matawalle,” he added.
He said the resounding success recorded recently has clearly shown the political will of Mr. President to end banditry in the shortest time.
“Thus, Governor Lawal’s outbursts on national television stations were a serious disservice to the nation and embarrassment to the good people of Zamfara State. He should leave Matawalle alone to concentrate on national security as the Minister of State for Defence. Attacking Matawalle will not transform Zamfara State nor provide fruits of democracy to its citizens,” he said.
Shinkafi also dismissed Governor Lawal’s call for Matawalle to resign and clear his name of alleged financial impropriety while in office as governor, saying that it is laughable and a joke taken too far. “It shows that Lawal is totally ignorant of the meaning of false allegations and indictment by a court of competent jurisdiction. Let it be clear that no amount of character assassination will distract Matawalle from discharging his duties as Minister of State for Defence. The purported allegations are mere figment of the imagination of political opponents seeking cheap publicity and public relevance. The law is clear on criminal allegations.
“The presumption of innocence is a legal principle that every person accused of any crime is considered innocent until proven guilty. Section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, provides, ‘Every person who is charged with a criminal offence shall be presumed to be innocent until he is proved guilty.’ It is also an international human right under the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 11.
“Relying on the provision of the grundnorm, the governor has no legal backing to make such allegations against an esteemed citizen. He should stop dissipating energy and Zamfara State funds jumping from one television station to another casting aspersions on Matawalle. There must be an end to malice and mischief in politics,” he stated.
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