By Francesca Hangeior.
The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Muhammad Matawalle, has challenged Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, to swear by the Holy Quran, to prove his innocence in ongoing banditry accusations ravaging the state.
In an interview with Channels Television, Matawalle, who is the former Governor of Zamfara and the current Minister of State for Defence, called on anyone with evidence linking him to aiding bandits to come forward with proof.
“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,” he stated. Matawalle added that during his tenure, he ensured that his aides, commissioners, and other government officials also took an oath of innocence before assuming their roles.
He further defended his dialogue with bandits, pointing out that other governors, including those of Sokoto, Niger, and Katsina states, had also negotiated with bandits to prevent the collapse of their respective states.
Matawalle remarked, “Why only me? Zamfara is a small but complex state with individuals harboring devilish ideas. The people of Zamfara may dislike me because I confront everyone involved in these heinous acts, including politicians who destabilise the state.”
He stressed that, unlike others, he took a bold step by swearing an oath of innocence before God, challenging politicians like General Ali Gusau and Governor Dauda to do the same. However, he claimed that none of them had accepted the challenge.
“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 concluded.