Former Zamfara State Governor Bello Matawalle has vehemently denied allegations of aiding banditry levelled against him by current Governor Dauda Lawal.
Matawalle, now Minister of State for Defence, challenged Lawal and other politicians to swear on the Quran to prove their innocence in the banditry crisis plaguing the state.
In an interview with Channels Television on Tuesday, Matawalle emphasized his commitment to combating banditry, stating, “I was the only governor to swear on the Holy Quran that I have no hand in banditry.”
He questioned the integrity of his accusers, saying, “None of them could take the oath, and if they don’t take the oath, that means they are part of it.”
Matawalle defended his decision to engage in dialogue with bandits, citing support from several governors, including those of Niger and Sokoto states. He highlighted the successes of this approach, including the recovery of abducted persons and ammunition.
“I have always acted in good faith, as have other governors who engaged in dialogue with bandits,” Matawalle stated. “Yet, I seem to be singled out, perhaps because Zamfara is a complex state with terrible human beings and devilish ideas.”
Matawalle also denied allegations of siphoning state funds, calling them fabrications by Governor Lawal. “In my four years, I did not ever receive that money. The records are there, the indices are with the Ministry of Finance,” Matawalle said.
Governor Lawal accused Matawalle of stealing over ₦70 billion from the state government and criticized the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for not recovering the alleged loot.
