By Onyeche Igwe
The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, on Tuesday, insisted that President Bola Tinubu has not been unfair to the North in appointments, pointing out that the President filled key security positions with northerners.
This decision, according to Matawalle, is because Tinubu understands the security situation in the North, particularly the North-West, and he wants a solution.
The minister spoke in Sokoto on Tuesday during a visit to the troops of Operation Hadarin Daji at 8 Division Headquarters of the Nigerian Army, Sokoto.
Matawalle, who was accompanied by the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, said the visit was on the instructions of the President, who called from China and directed them to proceed to Sokoto to speak with the troops.
Matawalle said, “We are here in Sokoto State on the instructions of President Tinubu, who directed the Ministry of Defence with all its artillery to come to Sokoto and review the operations, especially that of Operations Hadarin Daji.
“The President is worried about what is happening in the North-West. He called me and the Chief of Defence Staff from China and directed us to immediately suspend whatever we were doing and come down to Sokoto.
“He said we should come and supervise the operation of our troops currently going on in the North-West, under the leadership of Operation Hadarin Daji, to see our troops, to review the operations and to make sure that all their needs are provided so that they can go and fight those criminals.
“Nigeria is not a Banana Republic; Nigeria is a country that the Constitution governs, and you all know Mr President knows the problem of the North, and that is why he appointed his security team from the North, including myself and the Defence Minister.
“He gave us this responsibility because he knows our major problem is security. The President carefully selected northerners and appointed them to key positions. Look at me; I am from Zamfara State, and the Chief of Defence is from Kaduna State. The Minister of Defence, Badaru, is from Jigawa State; the National Security Adviser is from Adamawa State, while the Minister of State for Police Affairs is also from the North.
“So, he carefully selected us because he knows our problem is insecurity. So we are here to flush out those bandits that have been terrorising our region.”
The minister also addressed troops, encouraging them not to be distracted by the recent happening in the state, apparently referring to the killing of four soldiers and the burning of two armoured vehicles by the Bello Turji-led bandits.
“Do not be discouraged by the recent incidences. The GOC will be given good support. I urge you to keep on doing a good job. We are here to support you to flush out bandits and criminals in this zone,” he said
The minister also visited wounded soldiers injured in the line of action at the hospital, where he assured them that the federal government was with them during their trying times.
He announced a N5m cash donation to be shared among the wounded soldiers.
