Bello Matawalle’s continued appointment as Minister of State for Defense in President Bola Tinubu’s most recent cabinet reorganization has caused controversy, especially in light of claims made by the governor of his state that he supports the extremist organization Boko Haram. Matawalle seems to have survived the storm and is still in his job, despite predictions that he may be fired.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, addressed the issue during an interview with Arise News, dismissing the allegations against Matawalle as unfounded. “As far as I know, most of those things are just mere allegations. They’re not true,” Onanuga stated. He emphasized that accusations against the minister had been investigated thoroughly and found to be baseless.
“Even the President, I’m sure, has heard many stories about him,” Onanuga continued, suggesting that the president’s decision to retain Matawalle reflects a belief in his innocence. “For him to be there, like I said, some of those things have been probed and they’re found not to be true. The NSA has already investigated those allegations, and they’ve been proven to be mere fabrications.”
Onanuga argued that the allegations were politically motivated, claiming that such tactics are not uncommon in the Nigerian political landscape. “It’s all politics,” he remarked.
While Matawalle’s continued presence in the cabinet has raised questions in some circles, the administration’s stance seems clear: without concrete evidence to support the allegations, there is no basis for his removal. The decision to keep Matawalle in his role is a signal that the president is standing by his ministers unless credible proof emerges to challenge their integrity.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
