The Federal Government has cleared the Minister of State for Defence H.E. Dr. Bello Muhammed Matawalle, over allegations of complicity on banditry in Zamfara State.

As false as these allegations were, the accusers could not come out with convincing evidence to buttress their allegations. It is baseless and unjustifiable!!!

Now that Minister Matawalle has been cleared of perceived wrongdoing, it is time for those who falsely accused him to retract their statements and apologize.

The Federal Government’s investigation found the allegations as recklessness and complicity with banditry to be baseless and politically motivated.

Their intention is to discredit Matawalle so that Mr. President will not deem him fit enough to retain his seat as Minister of State of Defence.

Cabinet reshuffle has come and gone, Matawalle was not removed thanks to his dedication and commitment to service through his contribution to the security of the nation.

It is true that since his appointment, the security situation in North West and Nigeria in general has improved tremendously.

His recent operational visit to Sokoto is a testament that the man is committed to eradicate insecurity.

The Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, Bayo Onanuga, in an interview on a national television station, Arise Tv said allegations against the Minister were thoroughly investigated by the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and found to be baseless and politically- motivated.

According to him NSA’s investigation concluded that the allegations against Matawalle were “mere fabrications”.

He said, “As far as I know, most of those things are just mere allegations.

The Presidential aide also provided insights into the rationale behind the reshuffle, explaining that public perception played a crucial role.

“People are just bringing out all kinds of fake things and allegations. That is why the man Matawalle is still in the cabinet. The President, I am sure, has heard many stories about him.

“For him to be there shows that, as I have said, some of those things have been probed. They are not true,” Onanuga said.

He added that the reshuffle was not solely about meeting the President’s expectations but also addressing the concerns of the public.

Matawalle who has recently visited  the operational base of Operation Hadirin Daji  twice led a successful coordination that culminated to the elimination of Halilu Sububu, a major bandit kingpin and his several lieutenants.

Besides, going by the achievements, proactive commitment to the fight against insurgency, and political doggedness, many opposition figures are uncomfortable with the confidence reposted on him by the President.

The Minister is a strong supporter of President Tinubu in the North.

We are calling on the campaigners of these falsehoods and those behind this pull  him down syndrome politics to retract the false claims, withdraw their allegations and apologize for spreading misinformation.

Consequently, they should also reflect on their actions which are considered harmful and take responsibility of supporting the national security efforts by contributing to the country’s progress, rather than spreading falsehoods.

Ola Olukoyede, the Chairman,  of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Tuesday said cyber crime activities threaten the nation’s most significant assets, its reputation, and economic well-being”. He also warned that it poses grave dangers globally and nationally, urging collective action.

The EFCC boss made the call at the opening ceremony of the Commission’s National Cybercrime Summit at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, emphasizing the devastating impact of cybercrime on Nigerian youth, eroding traditional values and promoting a get-rich-quick mentality.

Speaking at the summit with the theme: “Alternatives to cybercrime: Optimizing cyber skills for National Development”, Olukoyede noted that global cybercrime losses have been projected to reach $10.5 trillion, ranking it the world’s third-largest economy, with approximately 2,328 daily cases.

He said Nigeria has suffered significantly, losing over $500 million to cybercrime in 2022, even as the EFCC recorded 3,455 convictions in the past year, with a substantial portion attributed to cybercrime.

According to him, the commission recovered significant assets for local and foreign victims. Olukoyede addressed concerns about the EFCC’s focus on internet crimes, reaffirming cybercrime’s threat to Nigeria’s reputation, economic well-being and key assets.

The EFCC chairman stressed the importance of engaging state governors in tackling cybercrime at all levels. ”This time around, we are not only interrogating the problems, we are aggregating workable solutions to it. What alternative do we have for our youth? And that’s where it has become imperative to bring the state governors so that as we are tackling it at the federal level, sub nationals will also have a role to play.

“The enormity of challenges posed to us as individuals and as a country by cyber crimes are grievous as individuals. Youth involvement in these crimes is distorting and corrupting acceptable family values. The tendency towards quick riches no longer positions our young people for enterprise, resourceful intellectual aspirations and technological innovations.

“Projections by multiple sources show that the global loss to cyber crimes may reach a staggering $10.5 trillion, as a matter of fact, the research I did earlier this year confirmed that cyber crime has become the third largest GDP in the world, with approximately 2328 cases recorded daily.

“The implication of all this is that, if left unchecked, cyber crimes portend grave dangers to the entire world. “Bringing it to Nigeria, in 2022 alone, Nigeria lost over $500 million to cyber crimes. These are the realities stalking the Commission’s fight against these crimes. Cyber Crime accounts for a significant percentage of the 3455 convictions recorded by EFCC in my one year as the Executive Chairman of EFCC.

“A significant portfolio of choice assets have also been recovered and returned to both local and foreign victims of cyber crimes by the Commission. We are not oblivious of insinuations and misconception in some quarters that the commission is concentrating its operational works on the fight against internet crimes.

“While this narrative is not really true, the fact remains that cyber crime threatens the nation’s most significant assets, its reputation and economic well being”, he said.

The Federal Government has been told to end the anarchy being perpetuated in Edo state by prosecuting the out-going Governor Godwin Obaseki, who is bent on burning down the state after his party lost election during the last governorship election in the state.

The Centre For Political Orientation and Leadership Training, Professor Mike Otabor, made this known while delivering a paper in a workshop titled, “Governance for 21st Century African Leaders” in Abuja.

Otabor who is also an Executive Director and Resource Person at the Centre questioned the rationale for African politicians reacting so negatively each time they lose election but will not revert otherwise when they win nor appreciate the voting public.

Siting the ongoing situation in Edo state, Professor Otabor condemned Governor Godwin Obaseki for sponsoring violent protests in Benin city just because his party lost the governorship election of 21st September 2024.

He went further to reflect on the past when the governor won two previous governorship elections and a recent local government election where results were being announced even when the voting was still ongoing.

He stated; “I monitored the local government election. One popular young man got so much support from his community in Edo north and was leading with a huge margin when the result was announced.”

“The young man did not burn down his community. If he did, Obaseki would have arrested him for causing mayhem. I think Obaseki is not above the law.”

“The Federal Government should arrest him when he hands over power in November for causing mayhem and for ‘burning down’ the state. That is how to make laws work. Tinubu should use him to set example.”

Professor Otabor also admonished politicians who believed that power must remain with them like Obaseki. He was so high-handed and has even dragged one prominent election observer into the mud.

He went further to criticise Yiaga Africa for allowing politicians to use them in a sensitive election like this.

Even before they could submit their report, they quickly went on air to condemn INEC which was what Obaseki needed to cause mayhem in the state.

The government and INEC should take notice of the election observers like Yiaga as they are not acting for the interest of the people but for their own.

“I used to respect Yiaga Africa. The way they came out to condemn the election, which was highly monitored by many local and international agencies, shows that Yiaga Africa was biased.”

“We had representatives in Edo state throughout the election, and report revealed that on Sunday, a day after the election, Yiaga was with Governor Obaseki in the government house.”

“At the time Yiaga was invited to government house, he already got feelers that he was losing the election, and he quickly recruited Yiaga to do the dirty job of mudslinging a perfect election.”

“Let Yiaga explain to the world what they went to do in Government House, Benin City, when the results of the election were still being compiled. We have records. If they deny we will expose them.”

Prof Otabor also called on INEC to investigate Yiaga and ban them from observing future  elections in Nigeria if found culpable in the Edo election report.