The retention of Bello Matawalle as Minister of State for Defence in President Bola Tinubu’s recent cabinet reshuffle has sparked controversy, particularly given allegations made by his state’s governor accusing him of sponsoring the militant group Boko Haram. Despite expectations that Matawalle might be dismissed, he appears to have weathered the storm and remains in his position.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, addressed the issue during an interview with Arise News from 17:42, dismissing the allegations against Matawalle as unfounded. “As far as I know, most of those things are just mere allegations. They’re not true,” Onanuga stated. He emphasized that accusations against the minister had been investigated thoroughly and found to be baseless.
“Even the President, I’m sure, has heard many stories about him,” Onanuga continued, suggesting that the president’s decision to retain Matawalle reflects a belief in his innocence. “For him to be there, like I said, some of those things have been probed and they’re found not to be true. The NSA has already investigated those allegations, and they’ve been proven to be mere fabrications.”
Onanuga argued that the allegations were politically motivated, claiming that such tactics are not uncommon in the Nigerian political landscape. “It’s all politics,” he remarked.
While Matawalle’s continued presence in the cabinet has raised questions in some circles, the administration’s stance seems clear: without concrete evidence to support the allegations, there is no basis for his removal. The decision to keep Matawalle in his role is a signal that the president is standing by his ministers unless credible proof emerges to challenge their integrity.