Group commends Tinubu, NSA for ‘trusting’ Matawalle

The Northern Concerned Citizens has commended President Bola Tinubu and National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu for having confidence in the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle. In an interview on Arise TV on Wednesday, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, stated that Matawalle, a former governor of […]

The Northern Concerned Citizens has commended President Bola Tinubu and National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu for having confidence in the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle.

In an interview on Arise TV on Wednesday, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, stated that Matawalle, a former governor of Zamfara, was not dismissed because the Office of the NSA investigated allegations linking him to bandits and found them to be baseless.

Onanuga said the accusations against Matawalle were “mere fabrications” and politically motivated.

“As far as I know, most of those things are just mere allegations,” the Presidential aide said.

In a statement issued on Thursday by spokesperson Abubakar Mansur, the group dismissed the attacks against the minister.

Mansur asserted that no amount of smear campaigns could undo the success and blessings attributed to Matawalle.

The group claims that political enemies have repeatedly attempted to remove Matawalle from his ministerial position.

“We don’t need anyone to praise Matawalle; God has already blessed him to fulfill his role as minister,” Mansur said.

He added that Matawalle would return as governor of Zamfara State after his ministerial term in 2027.