MINISTER of State for Defence Bello Matawalle has dismissed allegations of aiding banditry, calling on accusers to provide evidence.
In an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Tuesday, he defended his decision to engage in dialogue with bandits, a practice he says was supported by several governors and has led to the recovery of abducted persons and ammunition in Zamfara.
”Let me remind you, I was the only governor that swore by the Holy Quran that I have no hand or connection with banditry or I am not happy with what is happening that if I am happy or if I am part of it or if I know those doing it or if I am collaborating with them God should not give me one-second grace.
“I have always acted in good faith, as have other governors who engaged in dialogue with bandits, including the governor of Niger State, Abubakar Sani Bello, and the governor of Sokoto State. Yet, I seem to be singled out, perhaps because Zamfara is a complex state with terrible human beings with devilish ideas,” he stated.
According to estimates from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED) –at least five times more people were kidnapped in Nigeria last year than in both Mexico and Colombia combined — countries notorious for abductions.
The minister argued that his fearlessness in tackling criminal elements in Zamfara State has made him unpopular among those engaged in criminal activities.
“The people who oppose me do so because I go after them,” he remarked
When asked if these individuals were politicians. He said in the affirmation, “Yes, they are politicians, and I go after them.”
“I challenged all the politicians, including General Ali Gusau and Dauda Lawal, to do the same. None of them could take the oath, and if they don’t take the oat that means they are part of it,”
“The dialogue brought significant success,” Matawalle asserted, citing the recovery of weapons and the release of thousands of abducted individuals, including some foreign nationals.
Banditry and kidnapping are just some of the challenges facing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who came to power in May 2023 with a promise to tackle insecurity from criminal gangs, jihadists, and other armed groups.
Drawing comparisons to the path of negotiations with bandits taken by then President Buhari, in his efforts to secure the release of the Chibok girls, Matawalle said, “This is a global practice; governments across the world enter into agreements to save lives,” he added.
Matawalle also condemned what he described as attempts to blackmail him for his efforts. “People are spreading misconceptions out of hate, but I have no regrets because we achieved a lot of success without paying a single kobo in ransom.”
The former Zamfara State governor also denied allegations of siphoning state funds claiming these were fabrications of the present governor of the state, Dauda Lawal
”In my four years, I did not ever receive that money. The records are there, the indices are with the Ministry of Finance. It is on record, and let me tell you, I don’t understand. I pity Dauda (Zamfara governor). I thought for now he should concentrate on giving good governance to the people of Zamfara State. I thought, for now, he should concentrate on the issue of insecurity.
”I thought, for now, he should realise that governance is a continuous process because if he is on that seat today, tomorrow he will not.
”But how can someone come and be telling lies, a whole governor to come and deceive the public ”
Governor Lawal had accused Mr Matawalle of stealing over ₦70 billion from the state government.
He noted that despite evidence made available to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the anti-graft agency has not done much to recover the loot.
When asked what lies the governor told, Matawalle answered, “How can he say unaccounted N240bn before he said N70bn? It is not a surprise to me if you know who Dauda is; this is someone who doesn’t know what he is talking about”.
Eighteen-Eleven Media