The Arewa Youth for Peace and Security (AYPS) has called on the Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal, to stop unwarranted attacks against his predecessor, Bello Mohammed Matawalle, who currently serves as the Minister of State for Defence.
The organisation asked the governor to face governance and allow the minister to concentrate on his own job too.
The group in a statement by its president, Abubakar Kankia, noted that Lawal has been consistently using the name of Matawalle, to deflect blame on the insecurity bedeviling the state, which was supposed to be his major focus.
He stated that an online platform doing the bidding of the Zamfara State government mischievously alleged that the Minister of Defence for State and immediate past governor of Zamfara State, Dr Bello Matawalle ‘distributed foodstuffs’ to bandits terrorizing Zamfara State led by Ado Aliero.
“It is outrageous, the height of rascality and fake news on social media. No right thinking person will believe this absurdity and gross abuse of the social media platforms calculated to dent the good image and integrity of the Honourable Minister,” he stated.
Kanika stated that Governor Lawal exaggerated insecurity during Matawalle’s administration to gain cheap publicity and popularity that propelled him to government and that having assumed office, he is overwhelmed by the burden of leadership, having no clue on how to tackle banditry in the state.
He said, “For the avoidance of doubt, since Dr Matawalle was appointed Minister of Defence for State, he has been working tirelessly with the office of the National Security Adviser, service chiefs and Northern States Governors in finding solutions and ending insecurity in Zamfara State in particular and the nation in general.
“Previously Funtua to Gusau highway was a deathtrap where bandits kill and abducted people for ransom daily. The Minister directed immediate deployment of military personnel and checkpoints along the highway making it safe and secure for road users.
“The same is applicable on Dambazau to Maradum town where bandits used to kill and kidnapped innocent people for ransom. Matawalle equally directed immediate deployment of military personnel and checkpoints that have made the highway safe for travelers.”
He also recalled that armed bandits attacked Zurmi Local Government headquarters, burnt down the police station, killed police officers, destroyed military operational vehicles and kidnapped innocent citizens.
“Equally, when students of the Federal University of Gusau were abducted by bandits, Matawalle, a compassionate leader, quickly directed the deployment of soldiers and Air Force fighter jets to rescue them. To the glory of God, most of students and construction workers abducted with them were rescued unharmed,” Kankia said.
He said that the governor should not use his predecessor as a scapegoat to cover his failure and the Matawalle should be allowed to carry out his duties as the Minister of Defence for State in tackling insecurity in Nigeria and make the country safe and peaceful for all citizens and foreigners, a cardinal objective of the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu administration.
He stated that no amount of blackmail will distract and dissuade Matawalle from fighting terrorism, insurgency, banditry and kidnapping in Nigeria, and bring the perpetrators to face the full weight of the law.