Presidency Reveals Why Tinubu Didn’t Sack Matawalle Despite Allegations of Banditry
Tinubu Retains Bello Matawalle as Defence Minister Amid Banditry Allegations: Presidency Respond.
The Presidency has provided clarity on President Bola Tinubu’s decision to retain Bello Matawalle as Minister of State for Defence, despite allegations linking him to the sponsorship of banditry in Zamfara State.
This statement follows a recent cabinet reshuffle that saw several ministers dismissed and seven new appointments made.
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Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, categorically dismissed the claims against Matawalle, labelling them as baseless fabrications.
Onanuga asserted that President Tinubu found no justification to dismiss Matawalle, as investigations conducted by the National Security Adviser (NSA) yielded no supporting evidence for the allegations.
“As far as I know, most of those things are just mere allegations,” Onanuga stated during an appearance on Arise TV.
He further noted that he reached out to the NSA regarding the claims and was informed there was no awareness of such accusations. “We have investigated, and they are not true,” he added.
The situation in Zamfara has been tense, with Matawalle and the state’s Governor, Dauda Lawal, engaging in a public feud, each accusing the other of complicity in terrorism and banditry.
In an effort to defend his reputation, Matawalle challenged Governor Lawal to swear on the Quran to affirm his non-involvement in criminal activities in the state.
Despite these serious allegations, President Tinubu’s decision to keep Matawalle in his cabinet indicates a strong belief in the minister’s integrity. Onanuga emphasised that the President’s continued support reflects the findings of the investigations, reinforcing that the allegations were thoroughly examined and deemed unfounded.
This development occurs amidst growing concerns regarding security issues in Zamfara State and ongoing efforts to combat banditry across the region.
The retention of Matawalle as Minister of State for Defence suggests the administration’s commitment to addressing these challenges while maintaining confidence in its leadership.
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