The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has strongly denied allegations of aiding banditry, challenging his accusers to provide concrete evidence to back their claims.
In an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Tuesday, Matawalle defended his past decision to engage in dialogue with bandits, a strategy he said was supported by several other governors and had led to the recovery of kidnapped persons and weapons in Zamfara State.
“They should bring any proof of that,” Matawalle stated. “It wasn’t just me who engaged in dialogue. Governors of Niger and Sokoto states did the same. But it seems I’m being singled out because it’s Zamfara.”
He further explained that Zamfara is a complex state with “terrible human beings with devilish ideas,” implying that the unique challenges in the state might be behind the allegations against him. Matawalle added that those accusing him are likely involved in the very criminal activities they claim to denounce.
“I was the only governor who swore on the Holy Quran, declaring that I have no involvement in banditry. If I had any connection with it, I prayed that God would not give me another second of life,” he said, challenging politicians like General Ali Gusau and Dauda Lawal to do the same. “None of them could take the oath, which means they are part of it.”
Matawalle also suggested that his strong stance against criminal elements in Zamfara has made him unpopular among certain groups, particularly politicians. “The people who oppose me do so because I go after them,” he affirmed.
When asked if those individuals included politicians, Matawalle confirmed, “Yes, they are politicians, and I go after them.”
The minister pointed to the success of his dialogue initiative, highlighting the recovery of weapons and the release of thousands of abductees, including foreign nationals, without paying any ransom. He compared his approach to that of former President Muhammadu Buhari, who negotiated with bandits for the release of the Chibok girls, noting that governments worldwide enter into agreements to save lives.
Matawalle also criticised efforts to discredit him, stating, “People spread lies out of hatred, but I have no regrets because we achieved so much without paying a single kobo in ransom.”
Regarding allegations of financial mismanagement during his tenure as Zamfara governor, Matawalle dismissed the claims as fabrications by the current governor, Dauda Lawal. “In my four years, I never received that money. The records are there with the Ministry of Finance,” he said, urging Lawal to focus on delivering good governance instead of making baseless accusations.
Governor Lawal had accused Matawalle of siphoning over ₦70 billion from the state, a claim Matawalle described as deceitful. “First, he said it was ₦70 billion, now it’s ₦240 billion. It’s no surprise to me, knowing who Dauda is. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about,” Matawalle concluded.
