Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has strongly condemned what he describes as a “vicious media campaign” aimed at discrediting the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, describing the allegations linking him to banditry as baseless and politically motivated.

In a statement released on Wednesday, Fani-Kayode dismissed the accusations that Matawalle sponsored bandits during his tenure as governor of Zamfara State, arguing instead that the minister’s efforts were instrumental in curbing insecurity in the North-West.

“The ongoing attempt to demonise and destroy Bello Matawalle through a well-orchestrated and generously funded media campaign is not only evil but also dangerous to our national security,” Fani-Kayode said.

Advertisement

He praised Matawalle’s loyalty to President Bola Tinubu and his commitment to the fight against terrorism.

The defence comes amidst renewed scrutiny of Matawalle’s past administration. Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, recently alleged that his predecessor was “fully involved” in banditry, claiming that ransom payments were facilitated through the Government House and that bandits were harbored there.

However, Matawalle has consistently denied these claims, famously challenging his accusers to swear by the Holy Quran, as he did, that they have no connections to the criminal elements ravaging the state.

Advertisement

Fani-Kayode, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), urged Nigerians to ignore the “distractions” and support the federal government’s efforts to restore peace.

His comments align with the stance of the Zamfara APC chapter, which recently commended President Tinubu for retaining Matawalle despite the allegations, citing the minister’s balanced approach of kinetic and non-kinetic strategies during his governorship.