He commended the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) for investigating allegations against the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, regarding his alleged involvement in banditry affecting the Northwest.
According to Kwankwaso, the investigation and a statement from the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Tinubu, Bayo Onanuga, clarified the reasons why Matawalle was not dismissed in the recent cabinet reshuffle.
Dr. Kwankwaso stated that during an interview on a national TV station, Mr. Onanuga explained that the allegations against the Minister were thoroughly investigated by the NSA and found to be baseless. He noted that Mr Onanuga said the NSA’s investigation concluded that the allegations against Matawalle were “mere fabrications.”
Kwankwaso added that with the minister now cleared of any wrongdoing regarding support for banditry, he has been vindicated for previously stating that the Minister of Defence does not support such acts.
He emphasized the importance of praying for Matawalle and rallying around him in his task to eliminate the “enemies of progress” causing unrest in the region.
Furthermore, he commended President Tinubu for not succumbing to the pressures of disgruntled elements who were casting aspersions against Matawalle and seeking his removal as minister.
“We, the entire people from the Northwest in particular and the North in general, are happy that Mr. President refused to do the bidding of those desperate individuals who wanted him removed as Minister of Defence,” Kwankwaso stated.
He lamented that it was painful and lamentable that some individuals are spreading falsehoods and allegations against Matawalle. “That is why the man (Matawalle) is still in the cabinet. The President, I’m sure, has heard many stories about him. For him to be there shows that, as I have said, some of those things have been probed and are not true,” he concluded.