By Tunji Oladejo
The removal of Mohammed Badaru as Minister of Defence marks a significant shift in Nigeria’s war against terrorism. However, Nigerians are questioning why Bello Matawalle, Minister of State for Defence, remains in office despite serious allegations of links with terrorists.
The allegations against Matawalle are not new. A respected Islamic cleric publicly accused him of ties with Bello Turji, a notorious terrorist. Matawalle has failed to respond or clear his name. This silence is deafening and Nigerians are right to demand his removal.
You cannot fight terrorism with compromised officials. General Christopher Musa, the new Defence Minister, needs a clean slate to reform the security architecture. Matawalle’s presence undermines trust and sabotages efforts to combat terrorism.
Countries take national security seriously. In the US, UK, France and Israel, security ministers must have unquestionable integrity. Nigeria should be no different. Matawalle’s continued presence is reckless and irresponsible.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, must clean the Ministry of Defence completely. Removing Badaru is a start, but leaving Matawalle is a half-measure. General Musa will face corruption, sabotage, and tribal interference. He needs a team with unquestionable integrity.
The stakes are high. If General Musa fails, Nigeria fails. It is time for the brutal truth: Matawalle must go. For transparency, security and national confidence, he must be removed. Nigeria deserves a defence ministry that is not crippled from within.
President Tinubu and General Musa should take certain steps to restore trust in the security agencies. President Tinubu’s administration should prioritise transparency and accountability in the Ministry of Defence. To ensure the Ministry is free from compromised officials, a thorough investigation into allegations against Matawalle and other officials should be conducted. This will help restore trust in the security agencies and demonstrate the government’s commitment/seriousness to fighting terrorism.
General Musa should address the allegations against Matawalle and other officials by seeking clarification and taking necessary actions. If allegations are substantiated, appropriate disciplinary measures should be taken to maintain the integrity of the Ministry.
To restore trust in the security agencies, the government should prioritise professionalism, accountability and transparency. This can be achieved by engaging with security experts, civil society organisations (CSOs) and the public to develop a comprehensive security strategy that addresses the root causes of terrorism.
With these steps, the government can demonstrate its commitment to national security and rebuild trust with the Nigerians.
Tunji Oladejo, JP, mnipr, who writes from the University of Ibadan, is the Chairman of The Progressive Forum, Ibadan (TPFI) via oladejo65@gmail.com.
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