Former Zamfara State Governor and current Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has strongly refuted allegations of aiding banditry, which were leveled against him by the current governor of the state, Dauda Lawal. In a defiant response, Matawalle called on politicians, including Lawal and former Nigerian National Security Adviser General Ali Gusau, to swear on the Quran to prove their innocence in the banditry crisis that has engulfed Zamfara State.
During an interview with Channels Television on Tuesday, Matawalle stated, “I was the only governor to swear on the Holy Quran that I have no hand in banditry. I challenge all the politicians, including General Ali Gusau and Dauda Lawal, to do the same. None of them could take the oath, and if they don’t take the oath, that means they are part of it.”
This public challenge comes amid escalating tensions between the former and current Zamfara governors, as the state continues to grapple with widespread banditry. Governor Lawal had earlier accused Matawalle of harboring terrorists in the government house during his tenure, and of facilitating the payment of ransom to terrorists through state resources. Lawal went further, urging Matawalle to step down from his ministerial position to allow a full investigation into his alleged involvement with banditry.
In his defense, Matawalle acknowledged his decision to engage in dialogue with bandits during his time as governor, stating that this strategy was not unique to him but was adopted by several northern governors, including Niger State Governor Abubakar Sani Bello and Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal. Matawalle claimed that such efforts had resulted in the recovery of kidnapped individuals and ammunition in Zamfara State.
“They should bring any proof of that,” Matawalle challenged his critics. “Zamfara is a very complex state with terrible human beings and devilish ideas.”
Matawalle’s remarks underscore his belief that the state’s banditry crisis is far more complicated than his political opponents suggest. He argued that his accusers, including Lawal, are attempting to scapegoat him for problems that have plagued Zamfara for years and which he contends they are complicit in.
“I have always acted in good faith, as have other governors who engaged in dialogue with bandits,” Matawalle said. “Yet, I seem to be singled out, perhaps because Zamfara is a complex state with terrible human beings and devilish ideas.”
The accusations of financial misconduct have only added fuel to the fire. Governor Lawal accused Matawalle of siphoning over ₦70 billion from the state’s coffers during his administration, a charge the former governor flatly denies. Matawalle contends that his financial records are clean and that all funds during his tenure were accounted for by the Ministry of Finance.
“In my four years, I did not ever receive that money. The records are there, the indices are with the Ministry of Finance. It is on record,” Matawalle stated. He went on to express his disappointment with Governor Lawal’s focus on accusations and political vendettas rather than addressing the pressing issue of insecurity in the state.
“I pity Dauda (Lawal). I thought, for now, he should concentrate on giving good governance to the people of Zamfara State. I thought, for now, he should concentrate on the issue of insecurity,” Matawalle added. “Governance is a continuous process because if he is in that seat today, tomorrow he will not be. But how can someone come and be telling lies, a whole governor coming to deceive the public?”
