Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has challenged those accusing him of aiding banditry to provide evidence.
Speaking in an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily this Tuesday, Matawalle who defended his decision to engage in dialogue with bandits pointed out that the practice which was supported by several Governors led to the recovery of abducted persons and ammunition in Zamfara.
”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”, he observed.
The Minister noted that his accusers are all involved in the same activities for which they are criticizing him.
”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.
He made it clear that he always acted in good faith, like other governors who engaged in dialogue with bandits, including the Governor of Niger State, Abubakar Sani Bello, and the Governor of Sokoto State and wondered why he had been singled out.
The minister argued that his fearlessness in tackling criminal elements in Zamfara made him unpopular among those engaged in criminal activities and 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 stated.
The former state governor of Zamfara 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 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,” Matawalle declared.
Recall Governor Lawal had also accused the immediate past governor, Bello Matawalle of stealing billions of naira.
