Insecurity: Sack Or Redeploy Defence Minister, Matawalle — US Lawmaker Tells Tinubu
By Olumuyiwa Olumuyiwa
Kimberly Daniels, a United States Democratic member of the Florida House of Representatives for District 14, has weighed in on the worsening insecurity confronting Nigeria, advising President Bola Tinubu to either remove ot redeploy Nigeria’s minister of state for defence, Bello Matawalle.
The US legislator, in a statement on Wednesday, noted that her position was informed by the Matawalle’s alleged antecedents on security matters during his reign as governor of Zamfara.
She added that there are allegations of complicity with bandits hanging around Matawalle’s neck, describing these as “red flags”.
According to Kimberly there are reports that Matawalle harbored bandit leaders and helped in the facilitation of ransom payments by victims of Kidnappings and other allied criminal activities.
The Us lawmaker condemned the wanton killings spreading across the Northern region of country, particularly the recent decimation of Christians on Palm and Easter Sundays in Plateau, Nasarawa, Kaduna among others.
She urged Tinubu to review his strategies on combating insecurity stressing that, the Nigerian community and leaders have expressed their frustration with the regular political statements from the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces which appear to cosmetic instead of “real action”
As an urgent recommendation, the lawmaker urged President Tinubu to remove Matawalle from his cabinet.
“Immediate Leadership Review: The removal or redeployment of Minister Bello Matawalle to restore the integrity of the defense ministry; Institutional Transparency: Conducting a transparent investigation into allegations of high-level complicity with banditry to regain the trust of the Nigerian people; Enhanced Protection: Implementing more robust security measures for vulnerable communities in the North-Central and Northwestern belts of the country,” she stated.
She urged the US, United Kingdom and other international communities to increase diplomatic pressure on the Nigerian government to ensure that those accused of aiding terrorism are held accountable.
“Increase diplomatic pressure to ensure that those accused of aiding terrorism are held accountable.
“The position I take on this issue is because of citizens reaching out to me from Nigeria. My connection to Nigeria as a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the chairwoman of UN-WCD would not allow me to be silent,” she added.
