… Says minister lacks security expertise, confidence of Nigerians
Following the recent widely reported recommendations made by a seasoned congresswoman, Representative Kimberly Daniels, calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to either sack or redeploy his Minister of Defence, Bello Matawalle, the National Coalition Against Terrorism (NCAT) has asked the President listen and implement the assessment reports.
The U.S lawmaker, who is also the Chairwoman of the United World Congress of Diplomats (UN-WCD) and the Chairperson of Africa affairs in the US parliament, has been championing campaign against religious extremism in Africa.
In the said recent assessment reports, copied the United States of America’s Secretary of States, other member state and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, it was recommended that the Nigerian public has lost confidence in the Minister of State for Defence Matawalle, hence he should either be sacked or redeployed.
Addressing a press conference on Friday in Abuja, the anti-terrorism Coalition, led by its Convener,
Marvin Ibe, Esq, insisted that Representative Kimberly Daniels meant well for Nigeria and her citizens, hence the government should implement the reports.
According to Barrister Ibe, it is a matter of urgency that the confidence of world leaders must be built around the military as every element of suspicion should be immediately be discouraged. The lives of our soldiers matters just as those of ordinary citizens.
He said: “We have observed with kin interest, the accusations and counter accusations of the Honourable Minister of State for Defence Bello Matawalle over his relationship with bandits during his days as the executive Governor of Zamfara State.
“To an extent, videos of his former aides testified his close relationship with bandits including negotiation for ransom payment and other gifts showered on terrorists which makes him a sympathizer.
“The sad reality is the position of Representative Kimberly Daniels who asserts that the greatest form of terrorism is the homegrown familiar enemies, when the people you trust to protect you work undercover with those who want to harm you, it must be devastating.
“To this end, we totally align ourselves with the position of Kimberly Daniels and call for immediate sack or redeployment of Bello Matawalle from the Ministry of Defense. It is widely believed that the people no longer have confidence in him because of his past relationship with bandits and lack of prerequisite experience to manage the Nigeria Ministry of Defence.
“We understand that America does not just speak, once it speaks, it act, their booths are already on ground and sharing this intelligence with us has help to reshape the security apparatus of the Tinubu’s administration.
“It is more saddened when individuals believed to be hired issued statements linking President Tinubu as the sole perogative for national security even when he has appointed Matawalle and others to manage the security unit, an evidence that he has no experience about defence.
“We view it as disservice for any Nigerian to go against this report as it is a unique intelligence that could reshape the entire war against terrorism and end the genocide in Nigeria. For is, the U.S Congresswom means well for Nigeria and the position she has taken is commendable.
“We, as members of the National Coalition Against Terrorism, heartedly endorsed the entire report of Kimberly Daniels and call on President Tinubu to act fast before it’s too late. Mr President must wake up to this call and do the needful before the country is overrun by the enemies within.
“It is believed that security informations are leaked before execution, so, to rebuild confidence of Nigerians and the World, redeployment of Bello Matawalle to another ministry should be the least consideration by Mr President.
“We also call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to track more terrorism financiers and prosecute them in order to discourage further such evil act.”
