The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has dismissed allegations of aiding banditry and has challenged his accusers to provide evidence to substantiate their claims.
In an interview on Channels Television on Tuesday, September 24, the former Zamfara state governor 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.
They should bring any proof of that. Because I dialogue, it was not only I, remember all the governor dialogue the governor of Niger state dialogue with bandits, the governor of Sokoto did the same. While only me because it is Zamfara. Zamfara is a very complex state with terrible human beings with devilish ideas”
Matawalle also indicated that his accusers are all involved in the activities they have accused him of.
”Let me remind you I was the only governor that swore to 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 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 oath that means they are part of it,
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 said
The minister argued that his fearlessness in tackling criminal elements in Zamfara has made him unpopular among those engaged in criminal activities.
“The people who oppose me do so because I go after them” he said.
When asked if these individuals were politicians. He said in the affirmation, “Yes, they are politicians, and I go after them.”
“The dialogue brought significant success,” Matawalle asserted, citing the recovery of weapons and the release of thousands of abducted individuals, including some foreign nationals.
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.”
He also denied allegations of siphoning Zafara state funds while in office, claiming that 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, and 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 Gov)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 in that seat today, tomorrow he will not be.
But how can someone come and be telling lies, a whole governor to come and deceive the public ”
Governor Lawal had in a recent interview accused Matawalle of stealing over N70 billion from the state government. He decried that despite evidence made available to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the commission has not done much to recover the loot.
When asked what lies the governor said, Matawalle answered
”How can he say unaccounted N240bn, before he said 70bn, 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.”