Minister of State for Defence, Alhaji Bello Matawalle, has dissociated himself from a report circulating on social media, claiming “Zamfara security initiative would not work without consent.
This is in a statement signed by his Media assistant and issued to newsmen in Sokoto State, Ahmed Dan-Wudil.
Matawalle described the reports as maliciously crafted to tarnish his good reputation and efforts, and undermine the Federal Government’s efforts at tackling the security challenges facing the nation.
He said at no time did he grant any such interview, noting, however, that he had taken Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal to task over his poor strategy and non-cooperation with the Federal Government on mechanism for tacking the security challenges.
Matawalle, who had earlier served as Zamfara governor for four years before his present ministerial appointment, noted that Governor Lawal’s attitude of not carrying him and other stakeholders along in his arrangements for tackling the state’s security situation that has become a national issue is condemnable.
He said meeting with the Minister of Defence, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru, alone and neglecting him who is a son of the soil and a minister from the state also saddled with defence matters, is regrettable.
“Everything should not be politicised. This is the time all hands should be on deck to tackle the security problems,” Matawalle said.
He also condemned the governor for authorizing that security operatives on the ground in Zamfara move to tackle the security threat without coordinating with Abuja, a situation he described as a major drawback in the process.
He described the story as a sponsored mischief by certain group of people who were out to use all other avenues to create political tension and instability in Zamfara State.
“Premium Times as a respected medium ought to have clarified from Matawalle or his media aides his statement on the matter in order to give accurate information to the public.
“The media should not be used as tools of political mischief and mudslinging because of differences in political leanings.
“As a stakeholder in the management of security in the nation, there is no reason for him to want to sabotage the efforts of any state governor, talk less of his own state where the security challenges have become unmanageable due to poor governance,” Matawalle added
According to him, the Federal Government remains committed to securing communities and ensuring residents return safely to abandoned farmlands, schools and homes.
He said the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is fully committed to addressing the country’s problems and no political collusion will deter the government from doing so.
He also said because President Bola Tinubu is focused on good leadership, purposeful governance, peace, security and socio-economic growth of the nation, his reelection is assured.
NASIR MALALI
