- Minister of State for Defence, who has sworn on the Holy Quran, said he has no ties to bandits or their criminal activities
- Bello Matawalle mentioned that other governors, including those from Sokoto, Niger, and Katsina, also engaged in negotiations with bandits to prevent their states from collapsing
- The former Zamfara Governor Bello Matawalle dared General Ali Gusau and Governor Dauda Lawal to publicly swear on the Holy Quran, denying any involvement in banditry
Bello Muhammad Matawalle, the Minister of State for Defence, has dared General Ali Gusau and Governor Dauda Lawal to take an oath on the Holy Quran if they truly have no ties to the banditry plaguing Zamfara State and the wider northwest.
This was disclosed during an interview with Channels Television on Tuesday, September 24, where Matawalle claimed to be the only Governor of Zamfara State who has taken an oath on the Holy Quran, affirming he has no connections to bandits or involvement in their criminal activities.
Matawalle challenges accusers to present evidence
When questioned about the accusations of aiding banditry, Matawalle said, “They should bring any proof for that.”
He added, “Because I dialogued with bandits? I was not the only one that dialogued with the bandits. The Governor of Niger State, Abu Sani Bello, the Governor of Sokoto, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, and the Governor of Katsina dialogued with them. So why only me?
He further said that he required his aides, commissioners, and councillors to take similar oaths before their appointments.
Matawalle highlights governors of Sokoto, others negotiated with bandits
The incumbent governor of Zamfara, Lawal, had earlier demanded that Matawalle resign from his position as Minister of Defense due to accusations of his involvement in banditry.
Responding to the accusations, Matawalle called on anyone with concrete proof of his role in aiding bandits to present the evidence.
The former governor, describing Zamfara as an incredibly complex and challenging state to govern, recalled that he wasn't the only governor to engage in dialogue with bandits. He pointed out that the former governors of Sokoto, Niger, and Katsina also negotiated with bandits to prevent their states from collapsing.
Matawalle swears on Quran, declaring no involvement with banditry
“Because Zamfara is a very small and complex state with terrible human beings with devilish ideas.
“The people of Zamfara will not like me because I’m fearless and can confront anyone. Most of those involved in this heinous act don’t like me because I go after all of them. Those destabilizing the state are politicians.
“Let me remind you, during my term, I was the only governor who swore with the Holy Quran that I have no hands or connection with banditry and that I’m not happy with what is happening. I swore with the Holy Quran that if I’m happy with what is happening, or if I’m part of it or know those doing it, or if I collaborate with them, God should not give me one second of grace.
Matawalle insists others should take oath
“And I challenged all the politicians then, including General Ali Gusau and Dauda (Zamfara Governor), to come and do the same, but none of them took the oath. I took the oath because I had a clean mind, and not just that, I ensured that all my councillors, chairmen, and commissioners took the oath before appointments that they had no hand in the criminal activities in the state. Go and check, the record is there.
“I challenge those people to take that same oath. None of them has taken that oath till today since I challenged them,” Matawalle said.
AGF Lateef Fagbemi warns anti-graft agencies against false charges, others
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that Lateef Fagbemi, Nigeria’s Attorney General, has called on anti-graft agencies to conduct thorough investigations before making arrests, warning against hasty and superficial actions
Fagbemi called for evidence-based legal evaluations and warned against justifying corruption.