The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has refuted allegations of supporting banditry and has urged his accusers to provide evidence to back their claims.
In a recent interview on Channels Television on Tuesday, September 24, the former governor of Zamfara defended his decision to engage in dialogue with bandits, a strategy he asserts was endorsed by several governors and has resulted in the recovery of kidnapped individuals and ammunition in Zamfara.
“They should present any proof of that. My dialogue was not unique; other governors, like the ones from Niger and Sokoto, have also engaged with bandits. Why am I singled out? Zamfara is a complex state with individuals holding devilish ideas,” he stated.
Matawalle further suggested that those accusing him are themselves involved in the very activities they criticize.
“I want to remind everyone that I was the only governor who swore on the Holy Quran, declaring that I have no ties to banditry and that I do not condone it. If I were happy about it, if I were involved, or if I knew those responsible, I pray that God denies me even a second of grace.”
He challenged all politicians, including General Ali Gusau and Dauda Lawal, to take the same oath. “None of them have done so, which implies their complicity,” he concluded.
“I have always acted in good faith, just like other governors who have engaged in dialogue with bandits, including Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger State and the Governor of Sokoto State. Yet, I find myself singled out, perhaps due to the complexities of Zamfara, which is plagued by individuals with devilish intentions,” he stated.
The minister explained that his determination to confront criminal elements in Zamfara has made him unpopular among those involved in illegal activities.
“The opposition I face comes from those I pursue,” he remarked.
When asked if these individuals were politicians, he confirmed, “Yes, they are politicians, and I hold them accountable.”
Matawalle emphasized the success of the dialogue, noting the recovery of weapons and the release of thousands of abducted individuals, including foreign nationals.
He condemned what he called attempts to blackmail him for his efforts. “People are spreading falsehoods out of malice, but I have no regrets, as we have achieved significant success without paying a single kobo in ransom.”
Additionally, he denied allegations of misappropriating state funds during his tenure, asserting that these claims were fabrications by the current governor, Dauda Lawal.
“In my four years in office, I never received that money. The records are available, and the data is with the Ministry of Finance. It’s documented, and I truly pity Dauda (the Governor of Zamfara). I believe he should focus on providing good governance to the people of Zamfara and address the issue of insecurity.
He needs to understand that governance is a continuous process; today he holds this position, but tomorrow that may change.
It’s astonishing that a sitting governor would come forward and spread lies to deceive the public.”
Governor Lawal recently accused Matawalle of embezzling over N70 billion from the state government, lamenting that despite evidence submitted to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), little has been done to recover the funds.
When asked about the governor’s claims, Matawalle responded, “How can he mention an unaccounted N240 billion when he previously stated N70 billion? It’s not surprising if you know who Dauda is. He clearly lacks understanding of the situation.”