Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has dismissed a viral social media post suggesting that Zamfara’s security initiative would fail without his involvement.
Speaking through his Media Assistant, Ahmed Dan-Wudil, Matawalle described the claim as false, malicious, and intended to tarnish his reputation. He stressed that he did not give any interview containing such remarks.
The former governor acknowledged that he had previously criticised Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, over what he described as ineffective security strategies and the governor’s refusal to coordinate with the Federal Government on joint security frameworks.
He also alleged that Governor Lawal excluded him and other key stakeholders from discussions aimed at tackling the state’s growing insecurity.
Matawalle further faulted a recent meeting between Governor Lawal and Minister of Defence Mohammed Badaru, claiming he was sidelined despite his ministerial role and ties to the state.
“Everything should not be politicised. This is the time for all hands to be on deck to confront the security problems,” he said.
He criticised the governor for reportedly directing security operatives to act on threats independently of federal structures, describing such moves as setbacks to national security efforts.
Labeling the viral post as “sponsored mischief,” Matawalle expressed disappointment that Premium Times published the report without seeking clarification from him or his media team.
“The media should not be used as instruments of political mischief and mudslinging because of political differences,” he warned.
Reaffirming his commitment to national security, Matawalle said he has no intention of undermining any state government.
He stressed that his focus remains on restoring peace and ensuring that communities in Zamfara and across Nigeria can return to normalcy.
He added that the APC-led Federal Government remains determined to tackle insecurity and other national challenges, asserting that political distractions will not derail President Bola Tinubu’s agenda for peace, good governance, and socio-economic development.
According to Matawalle, President Tinubu’s leadership and achievements position him strongly for re-election.
