The recent protest staged by the All Progressives Congress (APC) Akida Forum at the Department of State Services (DSS) headquarters in Abuja has ignited a political storm, with accusations and counter-accusations dominating the discourse.
Led by Musa Mahmoud, the APC Akida group called for an investigation into the Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Mohammed Matawalle, over allegations of his involvement in Zamfara’s security crisis.
However, in a statement released by Nasiru Aliyu, the Media Advisor to the Minister, the protest was dismissed as a politically motivated stunt. Aliyu asserted that the demonstration, which featured hired women and youths from Abuja, was driven by rivalry rather than genuine concern for public safety.
“Matawalle is no longer the executive governor of Zamfara,” Aliyu said, emphasizing that the current governor, Dauda Lawal, bears the responsibility for addressing the ongoing insecurity in the state.
“The governor is the chief security officer of the state; instead of casting blame on others, Lawal should focus on implementing effective strategies to combat banditry and deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of Zamfara.”
Aliyu went on to criticize the leader of the APC Akida Forum, Tijjani Ramallan, for fueling unfounded allegations against Matawalle, stemming from political envy.
Matawalle’s role as the Director General of Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s campaign in the Northwest, where he played a crucial part in securing electoral victories, has reportedly unsettled political figures like Ramallan and Mahmoud, according to Aliyu.
The accusations against Matawalle have already been investigated by the National Security Adviser’s office, which found no evidence linking him to banditry, a fact Aliyu said the protestors conveniently overlooked.
“This investigation led to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to retain Matawalle as Minister, where he has handled security matters in the Northwest with professionalism,” he said.
Adding legal weight to the issue, a Kano High Court recently issued a restraining order against Governor Lawal and others, preventing them from continuing a smear campaign against Matawalle.
“The court’s ruling is a clear indication that the allegations against Matawalle are baseless and politically motivated,” Aliyu noted.
Despite the court’s order, Aliyu accused Governor Lawal of continuing to use media platforms to damage Matawalle’s reputation without offering any substantiated evidence.
“These are desperate attempts to tarnish Matawalle’s credibility,” he added, calling for the public to see through the political maneuvering at play.
In concluding his statement, Aliyu shifted the focus back to the ongoing security challenges in Zamfara, urging Governor Lawal to take responsibility. “The people of Zamfara deserve tangible solutions, not political games. Governor Lawal must take ownership of the security situation and work towards real progress.”
He also highlighted Matawalle’s recent operational visit to Sokoto, where a notorious bandit leader, Halilu Sububu, was eliminated, a move that, according to Aliyu, “dealt a severe blow to the sponsors of banditry in Zamfara and triggered this new wave of smear campaigns.”
With the political drama intensifying, all eyes are now on Governor Lawal as pressure mounts for him to address Zamfara’s security crisis directly, without shifting blame to past administrations.