Former Zamfara State Governor Bello Matawalle has vehemently denied allegations of aiding banditry, which were leveled against him by the current state Governor, Dauda Lawal.
In a bold move, Matawalle, now Minister of State for Defence, challenged Lawal and other politicians to swear on the Quran to prove their innocence regarding the ongoing banditry crisis in the state.
“I was the only governor to swear on the Holy Quran that I have no hand in banditry,” Matawalle stated in an interview with Channels Television. “I challenge 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.”
Lawal had previously called for Matawalle’s resignation, alleging that he kept terrorists at the government house and facilitated ransom payments to them. In response, Matawalle defended his administration’s strategy of engaging in dialogue with bandits, a practice he claims has been endorsed by several governors and has led to successful recoveries of abducted individuals and weapons.
“They should bring any proof of that,” he urged. “Because I engage in dialogue, it was not only me. All the governors dialogue; the governor of Niger State and the governor of Sokoto did the same. Why am I singled out? Because it is Zamfara.”
Matawalle suggested that his accusers might themselves be involved in the activities they accuse him of, asserting, “I have always acted in good faith, as have other governors who engaged in dialogue with bandits.”
Addressing accusations of financial misconduct, Matawalle denied allegations of siphoning state funds, labeling them as fabrications by Lawal. “In my four years, I did not ever receive that money. The records are there, the indices are with the Ministry of Finance,” he asserted. He expressed concern that Lawal should focus on effective governance rather than spreading falsehoods.
Lawal has claimed that Matawalle stole over ₦70 billion from the state government, criticizing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for its lack of action in recovering the alleged funds.
