Matawalle Responds to Politically Motivated Smear Campaigns:
The Minister of State for Defence and former Governor of Zamfara State, Hon. Bello Mohammed Matawalle, has issued a strong response to what he describes as “coordinated, malicious and politically sponsored attacks” aimed at undermining his integrity, credibility, and national security contributions.
He said, “public service, especially in a nation facing complex security challenges, demands courage, consistency, and a commitment to truth. Over the past few weeks, I have watched with concern as false allegations and malicious narratives have been circulated about me by political rivals seeking to score cheap points. These individuals, motivated by personal disappointment and future political calculations, have attempted to weaponize sensitive matters of security for their political propaganda.”
The former governor who spoke through his former Commissioner of Information, Ibrahim Dosara said his stewardship as Governor of Zamfara state yielded positive developments for the residents of the State and were responsible for contributing significantly to Nigeria’s war against terrorism and banditry.
Matawalle stated that the activities of his detractors will not intimidate him or distract him from defending the country.
In the wake of these commentaries which are driven by political interests, Matawalle declared that attempts to drag his name into unrelated events are “nothing but desperate
political propaganda.”
“The allegations are baseless. The agenda is political. The truth is clear.
“I have watched with restraint as political actors engage in smear campaigns, misinformation, and character assassination targeted at me.
But the time has come to respond directly,” Matawalle said.
“Banditry was not a problem that was invented under my watch. I met it during my tenure as Governor of Zamfara State; it was an entrenched crisis that had grown over decades.
“But as Governor we did not sit back and cry over the poor situation. We brought to the table a seriousness in approach and structured institutional response to tackle the challenge, while working closely with the Federal Government, traditional rulers, and security agencies.” Matawalle noted.
He emphasized that those sponsoring the attacks are well-known political figures who “failed in their personal expectations, lost political leverage, and now seek relevance by fabricating stories.”
Matawalle’s Records On Security: No one can Rewrite What the Public Witnessed
The Minister outlined the comprehensive and aggressive security initiatives he implemented as Governor of Zamfara state, and said his initiatives were widely acknowledged by security agencies, traditional rulers, and the Federal Government.
Some of these include:
1. High-Level Security Committees & Intelligence Architecture
Establishment of a Special Security Committee chaired by former IGP M.D. Abubakar, comprising seasoned retired military and police officers, retired police commissioners, Directors of DSS, politicians, including one of my recent critiques, and community intelligence experts with the mandate to investigate people who were involved in banditry and recommend appropriate sanctions against them. The recommendations of the committee was also implemented, and some traditional rulers were dismissed based on the White-paper report of the committee headed by a reputable and highly respected retired Police Commissioner from the state.
We also created a Situation Control Room, had Local Intelligence and Vigilance Units, set up a Committee on the prosecution of Banditry and Related Offences, and the Anti–Illegal Mining Committee, led by one of my recent critiques.
Ironically, many individuals who served on these committees, appointed based on their competence then, are today working with the current government of Zamfara State. This is an indication that the structures I put in place in the state were viable and reliable.
I also directed the shutting down of telecommunications services for a period of time to pave ways for military operatives to carry out their operations without fear or hindrances and to cut negotiations network with bandits for ransom.
2. Other Major Operational Achievements
* Dismissal of compromised traditional rulers, including cases where investigations revealed conduct inconsistent with their oath of office.
* Retrieval of arms through structured disarmament programmes supported by the military.
* Request for 6,000 additional federal troops to launch expansive and aggressive ground operations. Denied though, due to reasons being unleashed against me presently by those working to stop the successful end to banditry and terrorism in the country.
* Rescue of thousands of kidnapped victims, including schoolchildren, elderly citizens, women, and entire communities.
* Arrest and facilitation of the deportation of 11 Chinese nationals involved in illegal mining activities in the thick forested Zamfara areas, inaccessible to ordinary citizens due to the large concentration of
dangerous bandits. These Chinese citizens were traced to a top-shot who hails from Zamfara State.
3. Humanitarian Support
* Provision of large-scale relief materials, medicals care, resettlement support, and emergency supplies to displaced persons.
* Establishment of humanitarian corridors, support for orphaned children, widows, and victims of banditry.
* Financial and other support services to the families of the deceased and the wounded security operatives.
“These interventions speak for themselves,” Matawalle said.
“Anyone who attempts to distort this record is simply playing politics with the pain of innocent citizens.
“Following these steps and measures deployed by me while I was Governor, I attained a milestone success where the state spent over a year without a single incident of attacks, kidnappings, and any form of criminality across the state. Efforts celebrated by the people of the state, Nigeria and other parts of the international community.”
“My Recent Efforts to Rescue the Kebbi Schoolgirls: I Did My Duty Despite Intimidation.”
Matawalle further revealed that most of those attacking him are those who were not happy with the role he played in securing the release of the recently abducted schoolgirls in Kebbi State, despite attempts to frustrate the process.
He noted that certain influential individuals, motivated by political ambition ahead of 2027, attempted to undermine rescue efforts and exploit the tragedy for political blackmail, including attempts to create outcomes that could be used to embarrass the Federal Government.
“I received harassment and intimidation for insisting on saving those children,” he said.
“But I refused to bow to pressure. Humanity comes first. Those children deserved to live. And we succeeded.
“These realities stand in sharp contrast to the smear campaigns being orchestrated today. Those who failed to secure personal favours or maintain political relevance are now desperate to attack my name. Others, uncomfortable with the ongoing reforms in the defence architecture, are pushing for my removal because they fear what these reforms will expose. They know that their activities, political and otherwise, are not hidden from the security institutions of this country.
“My loyalty to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains total. I serve the Commander-in-Chief with sincerity and commitment, and he is fully aware of the value I bring to our national security efforts. No amount of propaganda will influence his decisions.
“Nigeria’s security cannot be politicized. We cannot allow misinformation to derail the hard work being done to stabilize this country. My oath of office guides my actions, and my resolve is firm: no intimidation, no falsehood, and no political blackmail will deter me from my duty.
“The truth remains constant. And the truth will always prevail.
The Minister of State for Defence also praised the security agencies who worked tirelessly on the rescue, saying:
“These officers act with courage and professionalism, and I will always stand with them.”
Matawalle noted that those attacking him are people who fear ongoing national security reforms, people whose political ambitions run counter to the stability of the nation, and individuals who believe he stands in the way of their plans for 2027.
“Some of the loudest voices today are working day and night to undermine national security for election purposes,” he said.
“They know that I know them. They know their activities are known to the security agencies. In due course, through lawful means, the nation will know the truth.”
He stressed that no media campaign will influence the President’s judgement:, stating that: “The President is fully aware of my work and contributions to the security architecture of this nation. No amount of propaganda will decide who serves in his cabinet.”
Matawalle closed by reaffirming his loyalty and commitment to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and to the Nigerian people:
“No intimidation, smear campaign, or political sabotage will deter me from the responsibility I swore to uphold.
“I remain committed to the President, to the Constitution, and to the security of Nigeria. We will get to the root of these security challenges, and—God willing—justice will prevail.”
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