Two prominent organizations have strongly criticized the Minister of State for Defence, Hon. Bello Matawalle, over his recent remarks accusing former Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, of inciting the public against the Federal Government.
The Initiative for Transparent Strategy and Good Leadership (ITSGL) condemned Matawalle’s comments, describing them as politically motivated and an attempt to silence democratic voices. The group’s Publicity Secretary, Eric Justice Owuge, in a statement from Port Harcourt, argued that Matawalle’s threat to “deal with” Amaechi reeks of intimidation and is a direct attack on free speech in Nigeria.
Matawalle’s Hypocrisy and Security Failures in Zamfara
Owuge further accused Matawalle of hypocrisy, questioning his track record as governor of Zamfara State, where insecurity worsened under his leadership.
> “It is clear that this threat is not just against Amaechi but against all Nigerians who cherish democracy. If citizens are not allowed to freely express their views on governance, then we might as well be living in an autocracy.”
He recalled that during Matawalle’s tenure as Zamfara governor, insurgents and bandits overran large parts of the state without decisive action from his administration.
“Matawalle is desperately seeking political favor from President Tinubu by misrepresenting Amaechi’s honest observations. If he believes Amaechi’s comments were misleading, he should review the full video before making baseless accusations.”
ITSGL urged the Defence Minister to focus on his official duty of tackling insurgency and banditry instead of engaging in political vendettas.
Similarly, the Legendary Media Forensic Czars for Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi dismissed Matawalle’s attack as a distortion of facts. In a statement signed by its convener, Ikechi Akpuh, the group described Amaechi as a leader with an impeccable record in governance, security, and national development.
Akpuh recalled Amaechi’s tenure as Governor of Rivers State, where he waged a relentless war against cultism and violent crimes, restoring peace and order in the state.
> “Amaechi is a champion of peace, and his zero-tolerance approach to insecurity made criminals flee Rivers State. It is laughable to suggest that a man who brought stability to his state would now incite public unrest.”
He emphasized that as Nigeria moves towards the next general elections, it is crucial to uphold freedom of speech rather than suppress dissenting voices.
> “Matawalle’s claims are unfounded, baseless, and nothing but a hate-driven smear campaign against Amaechi. The former governor remains a disciplined democrat who believes in constructive criticism, not chaos.”
Final Word
Both organizations called on Nigerians to disregard Matawalle’s remarks, affirming that Amaechi remains a statesman committed to national unity, democracy, and development. They urged the Defence Minister to redirect his energy towards tackling pressing security challenges rather than engaging in political distractions.
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