Hundreds of protesters gathered today at the National Assembly, demanding the immediate removal of the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, over allegations of aiding banditry and worsening insecurity in Zamfara, his home state.
The protestors, organized under the banner of the Civil Society Advocacy Groups for Accountability and Probity, also accused the Minister of failing to refute numerous corruption charges laid against him by Governor Dauda Lawal-led state government.
The agitation gained momentum as the demonstrators fervently called on Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, to wield his influence and prompt President Bola Tinubu to take decisive action against Matawalle.
According to the group’s convener, Danesi Momoh, who spoke passionately for the assembled protestors, their demands were encapsulated in a petition directed to the Senate President. Momoh emphasized the urgency of holding those in power accountable and ensuring transparency in governance to combat the rising tide of insecurity plaguing the region.
“It has become imperative that we bring to your patriotic attention some unsavoury developments bothering on a significant and strategic appointee of the Federal Government. It is of prime importance to beam attention on these issues of national importance in line with our mandate to replicate world class development in our country as it is done in other democracies around the world.
“The revelations contained in the Pandora’s Box as published by the Zamfara State government accusing the former Governor, who is sadly the Minister of State for Defence of willfully embezzling billions of Naira through shady contract dealings, including a Cargo Airport pollutes the reputation and integrity of the current administration where you serve as the head of the legislature.
“Note that, Bello Matawalle’s criminal hoarding of all utility vehicles belonging to the Zamfara State Government shortly after exiting power, and the hullabaloo that greeted his unsportsmanlike behaviour portray him in bad light; we are afraid this might be replicated in the Ministry of Defence at the detriment of our patriotic Military.
“Governor Dauda Lawal had to fight to recover those vehicles and save the impoverished people of Zamfara State from further depleting of their meagre resources in purchase of new vehicles when they already had many, but which were stolen.
“On Friday, October 20, 2023, he spuriously denied the allegation of embezzling billions of Naira through the Zamfara Cargo Airport project; a development that pushed the State Government to reel out evidence backing the allegations. The evidence contained pictures and updates on financial records in relation to the uncompleted Gusau International (Cargo) Airport project.
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“Let us also assure you that we know how limited your role could be, but it is very important that in national interest you play that role. We shall also be mounting pressure on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu whose table the buck stops directly to replace him. All the Senate needs is to play its part.”
Malam Salihu Abdullahi, the Director of Sergeant at Arms at the National Assembly, who accepted the petition on behalf of the Senate President, commended the protesters for their peaceful and organized demonstration. He assured them that he would communicate their concerns to the relevant authorities.
