“The people who oppose me do so because I go after them” ~ Matawello

The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawello has dismissed allegations that he is afflicted with banditry in Zamfara.

In an interview with channel TV on Tuesday September 24, 2024, the formal governor of Zamfara made it clear that he has nothing to do with aiding banditry in Zamfara and his accusers also dialogue with bandits for the sake of peace as he did.

He said: “They should bring any proof of that. Because I dialogue, it was not only I, remember all the governor dialogue the governor of Niger state dialogue with bandits, the governor of Sokoto did the same. While only me because it is Zamfara. Zamfara is a very complex state with terrible human beings with devilish ideas”

”Let me remind you I was the only governor that swore to the Holy Quran that I have no hand or connection with banditry or I am not happy with what is happening that if I am happy or if I am part of it or if I know those doing it or if I am collaborating with them God should not give  me one-second grace”

I challenged 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,

I have always acted in good faith, as have other governors who engaged in dialogue with bandits, including the Governor of Niger State, Abubakar Sani Bello, and the Governor of Sokoto State. Yet, I seem to be singled out, perhaps because Zamfara is a complex state with terrible human beings with devilish ideas,” he said

He further said “The people who oppose me do so because I go after them.”

When asked if those he was referring g to were politicians he affairs saying “Yes, they are politicians, and I go after them.”

“The dialogue brought significant success,” Matawalle asserted, citing the recovery of weapons and the release of thousands of abducted individuals, including some foreign nationals.

Matawello also condemned what he described as an attempt to blackmail. He said “People are spreading misconceptions out of hate, but I have no regrets because we achieved a lot of success without paying a single kobo in ransom.”

He also denied any attempt of siphoning money while in office which he was accused of by Dauda Lawal current governor of Zamfara.

”In my four years, I did not ever receive that money. The records are there, and the indices are with the Ministry of Finance. It is on record, and let me tell you, I don’t understand I pity Dauda(Zamfara Gov). 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. 

I thought, for now, he should realise that 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 to come and deceive the public ”

Governor Lawal, in recent times, has accused Matawello of stealing N70 billion while in office. Matawello denied the allegations despite evidence made available to EFCC. The commission has not made much effort to recover the loot.

When asked what lies the governor told, he said

”How can he say unaccounted N240bn, before he said 70bn, it is not a surprise to me if you know who Dauda is, This is someone who doesn’t know what he is talking about.”