Arewa Groups Want Matawalle To Remain As Defence Minister

The Northern Awareness Network (NAN) and the Arewa Youths Consultative Forum (AYCF) have expressed deep gratitude and commendation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his decisive leadership in addressing the rampant insecurity that has plagued the North-West region while advocating that the defence minister of state remain to sustain successes achieved in the fight against insecurity.

This is even as the groups averred that, under President Tinubu’s directive, and with the pivotal role played by the Defence Minister of state Matawalle, the country has witnessed a significant transformation in the security landscape that has benefitted the lives of countless citizens.

According to the northern groups in separate statements issued by their chairman Salihu Suleiman for NAN and Yerima Shettima for AYCF respectively, “Before the relocation of Matawalle to Sokoto, the North-West was consumed by the terror of banditry and kidnapping, becoming an unfortunate battlefield for both criminals and innocent civilians.

“The virulent spread of these heinous acts turned our communities into frontline danger zones, leading to a situation where survival was an everyday struggle for our people. However, today, we find ourselves in a vastly improved security atmosphere, which can be attributed to focused efforts at restoring peace and safety to our beloved region.

Under Matawalle’s stewardship, we have seen concerted efforts to pin down bandits and dismantle their networks, pushing them into isolated enclaves.

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“This has significantly curtailed their reach and influence, allowing our citizens to gradually reclaim their lives and livelihoods. It is therefore important to acknowledge that the resilience and strategic direction provided by Defence Minister Matawalle have been instrumental in advancing the Tinubu administration’s promise of enhanced national security,” Salihu stated.

For AYCF Shettima, as residents of the North, they understand the gravity and implications of living under constant threat, and that they realise just how precious this newfound progress is. “To those who may dismiss the importance of these developments due to their self-interest in the conflict, we remind them that firsthand experiences must not be oversimplified or underestimated. The peace we are beginning to enjoy is a collective triumph deserving of gratitude and reflection,” the group stressed.

Both groups reaffirmed their support for the efforts being made by the government and military in combating insecurity, adding that they remained resolute in their belief that, with sustained commitment and understanding of “our obligations under the law, we can ultimately achieve a safer and more secure North-West.”