Defence Minister Denies Links With Bandits, Demands Proof

The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has denied links with banditry in Zamfara State and challenged Governor Dauda Lawal and others to swear by the holy Qur’an to prove their innocence over insecurity in the State.

Matawalle, the immediate-past governor of Zamfara State, recently came under fire following his alleged links with bandits in Zamfara, an allegation levelled against him by the state governor, Dauda Lawal.

But, the Minister, while speaking on Channels TV on Tuesday, also challenged politicians, including Governor Lawal to swear with the holy Qur’an to prove their innocence in the banditry crisis plaguing Zamfara State.

He said: “I was the only governor to swear on the Holy Qur’an that I have no hand in banditry.

“I challenge 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,” he said.

Recall that Governor Lawal had urged the minister to resign from office in order to clear his name, alleging that the former governor once kept terrorists at the Government House in Gusau, the state capital, and ransom was paid to terrorists through the government.

Matawalle, however, defended his decision to engage in dialogue with bandits when he was Zamfara State governor, a practice he said was supported by several governors and has led to the recovery of abducted persons and surrender of ammunition in the State.

He added, “They should bring any proof of that. Because I engage in dialogue, it was not only me. Remember that all the governors dialogue; the governor of Niger State engaged in dialogue with bandits, and the governor of Sokoto did the same. Why am I singled out? Because it is Zamfara?.

“Zamfara is a very complex state, very small state but with terrible human beings. The people of Zamfara will not like me because I am fearless and can deal with anyone.”

The former governor of Zamfara State also denied allegations of siphoning state funds, claiming the allegations were fabrications of the present governor of the state.

He said, “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 in that seat today, tomorrow he will not be.

“But how can someone come and be telling lies, a whole governor coming to deceive the public?”

Recall that incumbent Governor Lawal had accused Matawalle of stealing over ₦70 billion from the state government’s coffers.

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 from the Minister.