Bello Matawalle, the Minister of State for Defence, is accused by Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal of being actively involved in banditry throughout his tenure as governor.
Furthermore, Governor Dauda Lawal said that Matawalle harboured several bandits in the Zamfara State government mansion during his tenure as governor.
This was said by Lawal on Wednesday, September 18, during a Television Continental (TVC) interview. He insisted that Matawalle give up his ministry post.
Govern Lawal said, “There were a lot of issues in the past with my predecessor. In fact, let me say this is very categorical. If I were him, I would resign and face all the allegations against me. And that would have been more honorable because from all the information we’re getting, my predecessor was fully involved in some of these banditry issues.
“Typical is the fact that there was a permanent secretary when his children were abducted; it was unfortunate that he had to pay ransom through the government house. And it was also very clear based on all the allegations that bandits were being kept at government house. You know, there are so many issues.”
The governor of Zamfara State declared that it was unjust to the people of the state for President Bola Tinubu to designate the former governor as Minister of State for Defence.
He advised Matawalle to step down from his role and clean up his record.
“So for me, honestly, if I were him, I would step aside and face this allegation until I clear my name before I come back and continue my job. That should have been more honorable. And how can you imagine all these allegations against him? And he’s still the Minister of Defense. I mean, that is unfair.
“This man could have been honorable, stay aside, face all these allegations, clear his name and then come back and continue to do whatever he wants to do. Whether he wants to remain as minister or he wants to do something else, that would have been more honorable as far as I’m concerned. If I’m in that position, believe me, I’ll put in my resignation letter,” Governor Lawal added.
Matawalle was the governor of Zamfara State from 2019 to 2023.
A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.
Nnamdi Okoli