Why the Attacks on Bello Matawalle Miss the Point — And Harm Nigeria’s Security Efforts.

 

Former Commissioner for Information, Zamfara State;

Spokesperson & Media Consultant to Dr. Bello Matawalle,

Minister of State for Defence

In recent days, a familiar pattern has resurfaced in our public discourse: the recycling of politically motivated allegations against Dr. Bello Matawalle, Minister of State for Defence. The latest example comes from Farooq Kperogi’s Saturday Tribune column, which attempts to reconstruct a long-discredited narrative using conjecture, partisan opinion, and unverified claims.

*Criticism is healthy in a democracy.*

 Misinformation is not. And when the subject concerns national security, careless commentary turns from mere rhetoric into a threat to public trust and operational morale.

For the sake of balance, reason and national interest, the record must be set straight.

1. *Allegations Are Not Facts — and Repeating Them Does Not Make Them True*

The allegations hurled at Dr. Matawalle have been part of Zamfara’s political theatre since 2019. They have been investigated, revisited, and subjected to scrutiny without producing a single indictment, charge, or official recommendation of wrongdoing.

If any of the individuals cited—former aides with grievances, political opponents seeking relevance, or clerics influenced by partisan tensions—possessed credible evidence, the law provides clear avenues:

the police,

the intelligence agencies,

the EFCC or ICPC,

or a court of competent jurisdiction.

Yet none has ever taken this path. Instead, the accusations survive only as sound bites, weaponised and recycled whenever political motivations demand it. In a constitutional democracy, due process—not speculation—remains the only acceptable test of integrity.

*2. Matawalle’s Tenure in Zamfara Has Been Grossly Distorted*

It is easy—convenient, even—to ignore the realities of leading Zamfara during its most volatile period. What critics call “complicity” was, in fact, the burden of confronting an inherited crisis that had grown over a decade.

*Under Dr. Matawalle’s leadership:*

Military and police deployments expanded across rural corridors.

Local intelligence networks were strengthened and coordinated with federal agencies.

Numerous captives were rescued without the theatrics of media publicity.

*Critical roads reopened after years under criminal control.*

Most importantly, the so-called “dialogues” now twisted out of context were, at the time, a nationally endorsed strategy recommended by security experts, northern elders, and federal authorities. Nearly every state in the Northwest and North-Central experimented with similar models.

Those who now weaponise history forget that policy evolves. Peace initiatives ceased the moment intelligence agencies deemed them counterproductive. That is what responsible leadership looks like—not the simplistic caricature painted by detractors.

*3. The Viral Video Is a Misrepresentation, Not a Revelation*

The resurfaced 2021 clip of Dr. Matawalle explaining the socio-economic roots of rural banditry has been grossly manipulated to imply sympathy for criminals.

This is dishonest.

Understanding the complexities of conflict is not endorsement of crime. Governors, military officers, researchers and community leaders have all made similar contextual analyses.

Reducing nuanced security commentary to a scandal is not only unfair—it is irresponsible.

*4. On the Question of Political Value: Facts Matter*

The claim that Dr. Matawalle “never won an election” is historically false.

He served three consecutive terms in the House of Representatives—clear evidence of political legitimacy conferred by his constituents.

His ascent as governor in 2019 emerged from a legal process triggered by party irregularities, not personal failings. And his 2023 contest was one of the most competitive in Zamfara’s history.

Political value cannot be reduced to a single electoral cycle, especially in a region where political dynamics are fluid, complex, and deeply contested.

*5. Civilian Leadership in Defence Is International Best Practice*

Kperogi’s criticism of civilian defence ministers reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of modern security governance.

The Ministry of Defence, in Nigeria and globally, is structured to balance:

civilian oversight,

military expertise,

policy coordination,

and strategic diplomacy.

Countries with world-class militaries—from the United States to the United Kingdom—appoint civilian defence ministers.

Dr. Matawalle’s role aligns perfectly with this universally accepted model.

Operational command rests with the military high command; political leadership and coordination rest with the ministerial team.

The fact that critics do not see the behind-the-scenes coordination, engagements, and policy work performed by the Minister of State does not diminish its importance.

*6. Presidential Confidence Is Based on Intelligence, Not Newspaper Columns*

The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria works with:

real-time intelligence,

internal security assessments,

multi-agency reports,

and operational briefings unavailable to the media.

He retains Dr. Matawalle because he knows his value—value that armchair analysts cannot perceive from afar.

It is inconsistent for commentators to praise the President’s restructuring of the defence hierarchy while presuming he lacks judgment in retaining his junior minister.

Consistency demands recognising that national appointments are not guided by newspaper speculation but by strategic considerations.

*7. Nigeria’s Security Demands Balance, Not Smear Campaigns*

At a time when the government has intensified operations against terrorists, criminals and insurgents, politically charged smear campaigns are distractions Nigeria cannot afford.

They feed public cynicism, undermine trust in institutions, and offer moral oxygen to criminals who benefit from division at the top.

*National security requires unity of purpose—not personalised attacks based on unproven allegations.*

*Conclusion: Sensationalism Cannot Replace Substance*

Dr. Bello Matawalle remains Minister of State for Defence because he is part of a coordinated national security architecture that values his experience, commitment and strategic contributions.

To insist otherwise is to substitute partisan sentiment for reality.

Nigeria deserves a security discourse grounded in facts, fairness and responsibility—not a resurrection of long-discarded rumours.

As the country confronts one of the most complex security challenges in its history, we must resist the temptation to allow smear campaigns to overshadow substance.

The stakes are too high.

Our troops deserve clarity, our citizens deserve honesty, and our nation deserves leadership—not division.