5
Worried by allegations linking the Minister of State for Defence , Bello Mattawale, with activities.of bandits in the country, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has expressed shock at the development and called for the immediate removal of the Minister.
Sen. Usman Adamu Nagwaza, President of the Senate, NANS Headquarters, described the alleged relationship of the Minister with bandits as, “A serious breach of trust”, that has heightened concerns about the Minister’s integrity and fitness to hold public office.
The statement read in parts, “The allegations against Bello Mattawale are particularly disturbing given his position as a government official responsible for defending the country against security threats.
“His alleged relationship with bandits is a betrayal of the trust reposed in him by the Nigerian people and undermines the government’s efforts to combat insecurity.
“On this note, we demand the immediate removal of Bello Mattawale as Minister of State for Defence pending investigation into the allegations.”
According to NANS, “This is necessary to ensure that the investigation is conducted fairly and without interference, and to prevent any further damage to the country’s security. It is no gain saying that the Minister’s alleged relationship with bandits has emboldened these criminals and has led to the displacement of innocent Nigerians. It is imperative that Bello Mattawale is removed from office to prevent further harm to the country and to restore confidence in the government’s commitment to security.
We urge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take swift action to address this issue and ensure accountability. The Nigerian people will not tolerate corruption or complicity with terrorists, and it is essential that the government takes decisive action to address these allegations.
It is also important to state emphatically that NANS will not stand idly by while the government is seen to be condoning corruption and complicity with bandits. To this end we hereby issue a week ultimatum for his removal or we will mobilize massively, Nigerian students across the structures and organs of our association to block all major highways in their respective states until our demand is addressed and met. It is therefore sacrosanct that the government takes immediate action to investigate the allegations against Bello Mattawale and bring him to justice if found guilty. The rule of law must be upheld, and those responsible for any wrongdoing must be held accountable.”
Comrade Nagwaza emphasised that the Nigerian people deserve to know the truth about the allegations against Bello Mattawale, saying nothing would be left undone to ensure that justice is served, just as it called for transparency and accountability in the handling of the issue.
The statement added,” NANS is committed to fighting corruption and ensuring accountability in Nigeria. We will continue to hold government officials accountable for their actions and ensure that the Nigerian people are protected from corruption and abuse of power.”
Read the full article here
