The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Muhammed Matawalle, has issued a strong condemnation of comments made by former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, in which he reportedly encouraged politicians to “steal, maim, and kill” to maintain power. Amaechi’s controversial remarks were made during a recent conference in Abuja and have since sparked widespread outrage across Nigeria, particularly on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram.
Matawalle’s statement, released by the Ministry of Defence’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Henshaw Ogubike, condemned Amaechi’s comments as both reckless and inciting. Matawalle accused the former minister of attempting to radicalize Nigeria’s youth and destabilize the nation. He stressed that such inflammatory rhetoric was dangerous at a time when the government, under President Bola Tinubu, is working to consolidate national unity and improve the country’s security.
Matawalle said, “It is both reckless and dangerous for a former public office holder to make such inflammatory remarks. At a time when the government is working tirelessly to consolidate national unity and security, no responsible leader should be fanning the flames of violence and political unrest.”
Furthermore, Matawalle warned that security agencies across the country were on high alert and that any individual or group found inciting violence would face severe legal consequences. “The security agencies are on high alert. Any individual or group found inciting violence or attempting to destabilize this nation will face the full force of the law,” he affirmed.
Matawalle underscored Nigeria’s status as a sovereign nation governed by laws, asserting that power must be earned through democratic processes, not through intimidation, violence, or lawlessness. This, he noted, was in stark contrast to Amaechi’s suggestion that politicians could seize power through illegal and immoral means.
In his statement, the Minister also expressed strong support for President Bola Tinubu’s leadership and vision for Nigeria’s future. He emphasized that President Tinubu, having experienced both military rule and democratic governance, would never undermine the democracy he had fought so hard to preserve. Matawalle confidently stated that President Tinubu was poised for a decisive victory in the 2027 Presidential election and called on Nigerians to place their faith in his leadership.
Matawalle also urged the public to disregard the “vituperations” of Amaechi and his associates, describing them as politically irrelevant and out of touch with Nigeria’s current political and developmental realities. He further warned Amaechi and others who sought to manipulate the youth into causing chaos, reminding them that the government would not tolerate such actions.
On social media, Nigerians reacted with a mixture of support for Matawalle’s strong stance on law and order and criticism of Amaechi’s controversial remarks. Some users expressed concern about the potential impact of such rhetoric on the nation’s political climate, while others praised Matawalle for emphasizing Nigeria’s democratic values.
The Minister’s statement concluded with a pledge that the Ministry of Defence, in collaboration with relevant security agencies, would continue to monitor any activities aimed at disrupting public peace. He warned that those found culpable would face severe consequences, reiterating that Nigeria’s sovereignty and stability would not be compromised.
As the situation unfolds, many Nigerians are keenly following the developments and the ongoing discourse surrounding political leadership, security, and national unity.
