I’ve never said Zamfara security initiative won’t work without me — Matawalle

The Minister of State for Defence, Alhaji Bello Matawalle, has dissociated himself from a report circulating that he claimed “Zamfara security initiative would not work without him.”

This is contained in a statement signed by Ahmed Dan-Wudil, the Media Assistant to the minister and made available to our correspondent on Thursday in Sokoto.

Matawalle described the reports as maliciously crafted to tarnish his good reputation and efforts, and undermine the Federal Government’s efforts at tackling the security challenges facing the nation.

He said at no time did he granted such interview, saying, however, that he had tasked Gov. Dauda Lawal of Zamfara over his poor strategy and non-cooperation with the Federal Government on mechanisms for tacking the security challenges.

Matawalle, a former Zamfara Governor for four years, stated that Lawal’s attitude of not carrying him and other stakeholders along in his arrangements for tackling the state’s security situation that has become a national issue was condemnable.

He said meeting with the Minister of Defence, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru and neglecting him who as a son of the soil and a serving minister from the state also saddled with defence matters, was regrettable.

“Everything should not be politicised. This is the time all hands should be on deck to tackle the security problems,” Matawalle said.

He also condemned the governor for authorising that security operatives on the ground in Zamfara move to tackle the security threat without coordinating with Abuja, a situation he described as a major drawback in the process.

The minister described the report as a sponsored mischief by certain group of people who were out to use all other avenues to create political tension and instability in Zamfara.

” A respected medium ought to have clarified from Matawalle or his media aides his statement on the matter in order to give accurate information to the public.

“The media should not be used as tools of political mischief and mudslinging because of differences in political leanings.

“As a stakeholder in the management of security in the nation, there is no reason for me to sabotage the efforts of any state governor, talk less of my own state where the security challenges has become unmanageable due to poor governance,” Matawalle added’

According to him, the Federal Government remains committed to securing communities and ensuring residents return safely to abandoned farmlands, schools and homes.

He said the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was fully committed to addressing the country’s problems and no political collusion would deter the government from doing so.

He also said, “Because President Bola Tinubu is focused on good leadership, purposeful governance, peace, security and socio-economic growth of the nation, his reelection is assured.”