The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Muhammad Matawalle, has challenged figures like General Ali Gusau and Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal to publicly swear by the Holy Quran if they claim to have no involvement in the banditry that is plaguing Zamfara State and the broader northwest region.
During an interview on Channels Television on Tuesday, September 24, Mattawalle asserted that he is the only Governor of Zamfara State who has sworn an oath by the Holy Quran to affirm that he has no ties to bandits or any interest in the criminal activities they carry out in the state.
He also added that he required his aides, commissioners, and councillors to take similar oaths before their appointments.
It will be recalled that the incumbent governor of Zamfara State, Lawal, had earlier asked Mattawalle to resign his position as Minister of Defense due to his alleged involvement in banditry.
Responding to the allegations, Mattawalle challenged anyone with proof of his involvement in aiding bandits to come forward and present the evidence.
The former governor, who described Zamfara as a “very complex and devilish state to govern,” also recalled that he was not the only governor who dialogued with bandits, noting that the former governors of Sokoto, Niger, and Katsina negotiated with bandits to prevent the collapse of their states.
Asked why he was accused of aiding banditry, Mattawalle responded: “They should bring any proof for that.”
He added: “Because I dialogued with bandits? I was not the only one that dialogued with the bandits. The Governor of Niger State, Abu Sani Bello, the Governor of Sokoto, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, and the Governor of Katsina dialogued with them. So why only me?
“Because Zamfara is a very small and complex state with terrible human beings with devilish ideas.
“The people of Zamfara will not like me because I’m fearless and can confront anyone. Most of those involved in this heinous act don’t like me because I go after all of them. Those destabilizing the state are politicians.
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“Let me remind you, during my term, I was the only governor who swore with the Holy Quran that I have no hands or connection with banditry and that I’m not happy with what is happening. I swore with the Holy Quran that if I’m happy with what is happening, or if I’m part of it or know those doing it, or if I collaborate with them, God should not give me one second of grace.
“And I challenged all the politicians then, including General Ali Gusau and Dauda (Zamfara Governor), to come and do the same, but none of them took the oath. I took the oath because I had a clean mind, and not just that, I ensured that all my councillors, chairmen, and commissioners took the oath before appointments that they had no hand in the criminal activities in the state. Go and check, the record is there.
“I challenge those people to take that same oath. None of them has taken that oath till today since I challenged them,” Matawalle said.