The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, on Tuesday, insisted that President Bola Tinubu has not been unfair to the North in appointments, pointing out that the President filled key security positions with northerners.
This decision, according to Matawalle, is because Tinubu
understands the security situation in the North, particularly the North-West,
and he wants a solution.
The minister spoke in Sokoto on Tuesday during a visit to
the troops of Operation Hadarin Daji at 8 Division Headquarters of the Nigerian
Army, Sokoto.
Matawalle, who was accompanied by the Chief of Defence
Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, said the visit was on the instructions of the
President, who called from China and directed them to proceed to Sokoto to
speak with the troops.
Matawalle said, “We are here in Sokoto State on the
instructions of President Tinubu, who directed the Ministry of Defence with all
its artillery to come to Sokoto and review the operations, especially that of
Operations Hadarin Daji.
“The President is worried about what is happening in the
North-West. He called me and the Chief of Defence Staff from China and directed
us to immediately suspend whatever we were doing and come down to Sokoto.
“He said we should come and supervise the operation of our
troops currently going on in the North-West, under the leadership of Operation
Hadarin Daji, to see our troops, to review the operations and to make sure that
all their needs are provided so that they can go and fight those criminals.
“Nigeria is not a
Banana Republic; Nigeria is a country that the Constitution governs, and you
all know Mr President knows the problem of the North, and that is why he
appointed his security team from the North, including myself and the Defence
Minister.
“He gave us this responsibility because he knows our major
problem is security. The President carefully
selected northerners and appointed them to key positions. Look at me; I am from
Zamfara State, and the Chief of Defence is from Kaduna State. The Minister of
Defence, Badaru, is from Jigawa State; the National Security Adviser is from
Adamawa State, while the Minister of State for Police Affairs is also from the
North.
“So, he carefully selected us because he knows our problem
is insecurity. So we are here to flush out those bandits that have been
terrorising our region.”
The minister also addressed troops, encouraging them not to
be distracted by the recent happening in the state, apparently referring to the
killing of four soldiers and the burning of two armoured vehicles by the Bello
Turji-led bandits.
“Do not be discouraged by the recent incidences. The GOC
will be given good support. I urge you to keep on doing a good job. We are here
to support you to flush out bandits and criminals in this zone,” he said
The minister also visited wounded soldiers injured in the
line of action at the hospital, where he assured them that the federal
government was with them during their trying times.
He announced an N5m cash donation to be shared among the
wounded soldiers.
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