A group called Zamfara State Patriotic Political Class (ZAMPPOC) has commended President Ahmed Bola Tinubu for appointing former Governor of Zamfara state Bello Mattawalle as Minister of state in charge of Defence Ministry.
In a statement, ZAMSACO said, the appointment was well deserved and was based on merit considering the track record of the former Governor when he served as Chairman House Committee on National Security and Intelligence for good four years.
Matawalle according to the group also did his best in tackling insecurity challenges when he served as Governor of the state.
The statement which was signed by the chairman of the group, Bilal Shehu Umar and the secretary Kabiru Ibrahim Garba reads in parts as follows:
“We, of the above named organisation on behalf of the good people of Zamfara, wish to immensely thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for choosing our amiable son, leader, former Governor, Hon. Dr Bello Mohammed Matawalle MON to be in his cabinet representing the good people of Zamfara State”.
“The choice of Matawalle by the Jagaban as a Minister of Defence no doubt is a clear indication that the several methods he used in decimating armed banditry that bedevilled the state when he was the governor were carefully being watched by many well meaning Nigerians’:.
“Before becoming the governor of Zamfara, Matawalle had served as member House of Representatives during which he efficiently and effectively served as Chairman House Committee on National Security and Intelligence for good four years which saw a drastic reduction of the dreaded Boko Haram insurgents to the gratitude and pride of the National Assembly”.
“Bringing his wealth of experience to his home state of Zamfara as the governor and Chief Security Officer, Matawalle introduced peace dialogue with bandits in the state who had made life terribly unbearable most especially to the rural dwellers who were always either killed, maimed or kidnapped while their animals and foodstuffs were carted away or burned”.
The group also observed that through the peace dialogue initiated by Matawalle during his tenure, some bandits surrendered their arms and ammunition and assisted security agents in tracking down unrepentant bandits a situation which in turn forced many of them to either surrender or relocate elsewhere.
The group said Matawalle initiated and joined forces with his colleagues, the governors of neighboring Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger and Kano states and even had to cross over to the neighboring Niger Republic and formed partnerships and alliances with support from the federal government and security agencies to disband hundreds of bandits camps and their occupants harbouring in the region.
The group further added that, “Matawalle was and has remained the first and only governor who initiated the RUGA settlement for Fulanis equipped with all social amenities including schools, hospitals, markets, police station, sources of good drinking water, modern pastures, improved grass feeds and other means of maintaining a good livestock with the view to keep the nomadic Fulanis in one place so as to reduce the fights characterized by lost of lives and property involving the nomadic Fulani and other communities”.
“It is, therefore, our strong believe that making Matawalle a Defence Minister is a round peg in a round hole, and it is going to be too bad for all criminals and crimes”.
“We are very confident that Matawalle will be one of the best and fulfilling ministers in the Tinubu led administration and we shall continue to pray for him and the government for a successful, historic and people oriented administration”. Concluded the group.
