Former governor of Zamfara State, and now Honourable Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle, has been conferred with the award of Excellence In Leadership by a group, the Concerned Citizens of Six Geopolitical Zones In Nigeria recently.
The Comrade Bassey Ayanga-led group handed over the plaque to the former governor at an event held in the Ministry of Defence, Ship House in Abuja, Thursday describing the Minister as a proactive and dedicated leader.
Speaking at the event, Comrade Ayanga commended Dr. Matawalle for his nation building efforts and the resilience he has shown over the years right from when he became the governor of Zamfara State and now a junior Minister who has been doing everything possible to complement the collaborative efforts of the Senior Minister to ensure that insurgency, banditry and all forms of violent agitations are reduced to the barest minimum if not exterminated.
Ayanga specifically noted that the administrative prowess of the ‘reticent Minister’ during the bloody conflict that erupted earlier in the year along Forcados River particularly in Okuama Community, Ughelli South Local Government Area, Delta State South-South Nigeria saying the minister’s hands in the peaceful resolution of the crisis was glaringly noticeable for which Nigerians applauded the entire military apparatus.
Stressing further, Ayanga told the crowd how the former governor was able to bring peace to bear in Zamfara State during his peaceful tenure in the North Western State withing his first 100 Days in office which he stated was remarkably free of any form of bloody attack a development he said was strange going by hostilities the people suffered before he emerged their governor.
“Sir, we count you worthy of this award today through the vehicle of logic and accurate sense of commendation for your collaborative efforts at building a new nation where the people’s hopes and aspirations are renewed. You are one of the major pillars of the renewed hope agenda of this administration.” Anyanga told Dr. Matawalle at the event stating that, “your enemies shall be our enemies and your friends our friends. Nobody can underplay your achievements in Zafara State where the world witnessed your transformative willpower and acumen which you sufficiently demonstrated during your administration. Count on us at every bend of your journey to success, count on us while you lead selflessly from the front…” The group maintained.
Responding to the goodwill message by the group leadership, the Honourable Minister expressed overwhelming gratitude describing the gesture as shocking to him especially as he was completely oblivious of the development forehand. However the former governor thanked the group as he reiterated the need for peace to reign in Nigeria.
According to Dr. Matawalle, there’s need for the citizens to patiently study and understand the policies and programmes of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu so as to make informed decision to support the government noting that the current operators of the political system are passing through a lot of challenges to stabilise the economy and to anchor it to safety.
“My advise to the youths is to stay patient and pray for this administration to succeed because we all see that it is a practically reformative, responsive and dedicated administration that crave the support of all. “Don’t allow yourself to be misinformed into staging any protest.
“Those people you think you want to protest against have the capacity to avoid troubles of any kind but what of the downtrodden masses who will suffer in the aftermath of any violent protest? What about the workers whose sources of income would be impeded/destroyed if the youths engage in their so-called riots.
