Bello Matawalle, the Minister of State for Defence, has accused his detractors of trying to utilize delicate security matters for propaganda.
In a statement signed by Ibrahim Dosara, his media assistant, the Minister bemoaned the politically motivated and malevolent attacks he is subjected to that are intended to harm his character.
He claimed that individuals whose political aspirations for 2027 are endangered by the government’s security changes are the ones funding the attacks.
He claimed that the attackers are politicians looking for attention and attempting to divert him from his work.
“Public service demands courage, consistency, and a commitment to truth,” he says.
“It is nothing more than desperate political propaganda to try to drag my name into unrelated events.”
Matawalle clarified that even before he was appointed governor of Zamfara, banditry was a pervasive problem.
“Banditry was not a problem that was invented under my watch,” he claimed. It had expanded over several decades.
He claimed that his administration had improved intelligence, created high-level committees, implemented structured security measures, and convicted criminals.
Additionally, he stated that disarmament programs were carried out with military assistance and that compromised traditional rulers were ousted.
The minister stated that while he was governor, 11 Chinese nationals engaged in illicit mining were deported and thousands of kidnapped victims were freed. He claimed that anyone attempting to misrepresent this record is using the suffering of defenseless persons as a political tool.
Matawalle added that because of these precautions, Zamfara had not experienced any significant security incidents for over a year.
“I received harassment and intimidation,” he continued, describing the harassment he experienced while working on the rescue of abducted schoolgirls in Kebbi. But I was not going to give in to pressure. First and foremost, humanity
He said that those criticizing him are driven by the 2027 election and are terrified of the current defense reforms.
He declared, “My loyalty to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains total,” reiterating his commitment to the president. His decisions won’t be influenced by propaganda.
