The Northern Concerned Citizens have criticized Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal, accusing him of orchestrating a smear campaign against the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle.
The group also commended President Bola Tinubu and National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu for trusting Matawalle despite the fabricated allegations by Dauda, which were spread through various media outlets.
The group claims Lawal’s efforts to damage Matawalle’s reputation have failed and suggests he may resort to new tactics.
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 National Security Adviser (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 president’s aide said.
In a statement issued on Thursday by spokesperson Abubakar Mansur, the group dismissed the alleged smear campaign as ineffective.
Mansur asserted that no amount of media attacks could undo the success and blessings attributed to Matawalle.
“Whatever God has touched and blessed, no amount of media calumny can remove it,” Mansur said in the statement, expressing confidence in Matawalle’s standing.
The group claims that political enemies have repeatedly attempted to remove Matawalle from his ministerial position.
However, these efforts have reportedly failed, with Matawalle being praised for his performance as Minister of State for Defence.
“We don’t need anyone to praise Matawalle; God has already blessed him to fulfill his role as minister,” Mansur continued.
He added that Matawalle would return to complete his remaining four years as governor of Zamfara State after his ministerial term.
The statement also took aim at Governor Lawal, reminding him that his tenure in office is temporary. “Dauda should not forget that just as he was brought into power, he can also be removed,” Mansur warned.
The spokesperson urged Lawal to cooperate with Matawalle in the interest of the state, suggesting that collaboration between the two could ease tensions.
Mansur further noted that blackmailing Matawalle in the media would not prevent him from potentially returning as governor in 2027.
“The media cannot stop what God has already ordained,” Mansur emphasized, expressing confidence that Matawalle would regain the governorship in 2027, by the grace of God.