Resign and face allegations against you, Gov Lawal tells Matawalle

Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has dared his predecessor and current Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to step aside and clear his name on allegations leveled against him while he served as governor. Among others, Matawalle has been accused of having ties to bandits – an allegation he has since denied. The […]

Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has dared his predecessor and current Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to step aside and clear his name on allegations leveled against him while he served as governor.

Among others, Matawalle has been accused of having ties to bandits – an allegation he has since denied.

The governor, who spoke Wednesday night during an appearance on TVC, said if Matawalle had any integrity left in him, he should honourably resign.

Lawal detailed how the government house was allegedly used to pay ransom for abducted children of a permanent secretary in the state.

• Edo guber: Nigerian fact-checkers coalition opens situation room
• Shettima to lead Nigeria’s delegation to 79th UN Assembly 

He said: “If I were him (Matawalle), I would resign and face all the allegations against me.

“There was a permanent secretary, when his children were abducted… it was unfortunate that he had to pay ransom through the government house and it was also very clear from all the allegations that bandits were being kept at the government house.

“For me honestly, I will step aside and face this allegation until I clear my name before I come back and continue my job. That should have been honourable. How will he have all these allegations against him and he is still the minister of defence?”