Matawalle challenges Zamfara gov, others to swear with Quran if they’re not sponsoring bandits

Abdullateef Fowewe

Former Zamfara State Governor now the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has challenged the incumbent governor of Zamfara, Dauda Lawal to swear with the Muslim holy book, the Quran if they are not involved in banditry.

Matawalle in an interview with Channel TV on Tuesday, recounted that he was the only Governor who swore by the Quran that he had no hand or connections with banditry.

He made this claim why refuting the allegations by Governor Lawal, alleging that he is involved in banditry in the region.

Lawal had earlier urged Matawalle to voluntarily step down to address accusations of banditry sponsorship and money laundering during his tenure as Governor.

Matawalle while reacting to the allegations, said, “Let me remind you, when I was a governor, I was the only governor that swore by the Holy Quran that I have no hand or connections with banditry or I am not happy with what is happening. I swore that if I was happy or part of it, God should not give me one seconds.

“I challenged all the politicians that time including Dauda, but none of them could take the oath. But I took it because I know my mind, I know I have a clean heart. Not only that, including all my councillors, chairmen, and commissioners, I will not give you an appointment, you have to take the oath.

“And up till tomorrow, I am challenging these people to take the oath that I have taken. They are part of the banditry, if not, let them take the oath with the holy Quran openly with all the Imams in Zamfara State. And since that time none of them have taken this oath.”

Meanwhile, Matawalle on September 4, charged the Nigerian Army to achieve success in the war against terrorism in the northwest part of the country, as reported by Dailyeconomy.