The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Muhammad Matawalle, has issued a daring challenge to the current Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, asking him to swear by the Holy Quran to prove his innocence in the ongoing banditry crisis plaguing the state. This bold move came during an interview Matawalle granted to Channels Television.
Matawalle, who previously served as Governor of Zamfara before being appointed to his current ministerial position, expressed frustration over continuous accusations linking him to bandits in the state. He denied any involvement and challenged anyone with evidence against him to come forward.
“I am the only Governor of Zamfara who has sworn by the Holy Quran, declaring I have no ties to the bandits or their criminal activities in the state,” Matawalle declared. According to him, during his tenure as governor, he took the extra step of making his aides, commissioners, and other top government officials swear an oath to affirm their innocence as well.
In defense of his efforts to address the security crisis in Zamfara, Matawalle explained that engaging in dialogue with bandits was a strategy he used to prevent the complete collapse of the state. He mentioned that he was not alone in this approach, highlighting that governors from other northern states, such as Sokoto, Niger, and Katsina, also negotiated with bandits as part of their efforts to maintain stability.
“Why only me?” Matawalle asked, referring to the accusations against him. He described Zamfara as a complicated state where some people have “devilish ideas” and suggested that some of his critics might dislike him because he confronted everyone involved in these criminal activities, including certain politicians who, he claims, contribute to destabilizing the region.
Matawalle also took aim at prominent political figures such as General Ali Gusau and Governor Dauda Lawal, daring them to take the same oath he did. According to Matawalle, despite his public challenge, none of these figures have stepped forward to swear on the Quran, further fueling his frustration.
He concluded by emphasizing his own clean conscience. “I swore with a clean mind, and I ensured that all my councilors, chairmen, and commissioners also took the same oath before their appointments. The record is there,” he stated confidently.
