Minister of State for Defence and former Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, has refuted corruption allegations made against him by the state government, stating that attempts to tarnish his image won't lead to his removal as a minister. The Zamfara state government accused Matawalle of financial mismanagement, including embezzling funds allocated to the state cargo airport project.
Matawalle lost his bid for re-election in March 2023 to a candidate from the People's Democratic Party. He criticized his successor, Governor Dauda, for dismantling projects initiated during his tenure, such as the airport road and Ruga projects. He accused Dauda of misleading the people by pledging to repair the airport road only to destroy it, as well as damaging other infrastructural projects.
In an interview, Matawalle stated that Dauda's actions were aimed at humiliating him and did not serve the interests of the people of Zamfara. Matawalle emphasized that despite allegations and orchestrated campaigns against him, his role as a minister remains unaffected. He warned against sponsoring false accusations to undermine his position. This ongoing feud highlights the political tensions and confrontations within Zamfara state's leadership, potentially affecting governance and development in the region.
