December 04, (THEWILL) — Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has faulted renewed calls for the removal of the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle.
In a statement posted on his social media handle, the former Minister described the criticisms as vicious, shameless, and politically orchestrated.
He further said Matawalle has remained steadfast in his loyalty to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and has shown exceptional commitment to Nigeria’s counter-terrorism efforts since assuming office.
He credited the combined efforts of Matawalle and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, with neutralising more terrorists over the last two years than in the previous eight, noting that their partnership has strengthened national security operations.
The former minister argued that the achievements recorded in the defence sector have not been sufficiently publicised, insisting that Nigerians deserve to be informed of the progress made in the fight against insecurity.
“Opposition figures are desperate to see Matawalle removed because of his loyalty to President Tinubu, not due to any failure in performance or service delivery”, Fani-Kayode said.
Fani Kayode described Matawalle as a focused and results-oriented leader whose dedication to peace, unity, and political stability is reflected in his approach to national security management.
With the recent appointment of former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, as Minister of Defence, Fani-Kayode expressed confidence that the synergy among Musa, Ribadu, Matawalle, and the Service Chiefs will further enhance military operations nationwide.
He urged Matawalle to remain focused and not be distracted by what he termed the “political noise” from opponents seeking to undermine his achievements.
Tunde Omolehin is an award-winning Journalist with prose in investigative and storytelling that is connecting the dots between the under-reported communities and policymakers to ensure good governance and accountability.
