The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Muhammed Matawalle, has strongly condemned former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, over what he described as ‘reckless and inciting utterances’, against President Bola Tinubu’s leadership.
Speaking at a recent conference in Abuja, Amaechi reportedly claimed that Nigerian politicians must ‘steal, maim, and kill’ to remain in power.
In a statement by the Director of Press and Public Relations for the Ministry of Defence, Henshaw Ogubike, Matawalle condemned the remark, calling it an insult to Nigerians’ intelligence and a dangerous attempt to radicalize the youth and destabilize national peace.
‘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’, Matawalle asserted.
He warned against misleading young Nigerians with narratives of violence and anarchy, emphasizing that Nigeria is a sovereign nation governed by laws.
‘Let me make it clear: 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. We will not tolerate any form of subversive rhetoric that seeks to undermine national unity or incite lawlessness’, Matawalle warned.
The Minister reminded Amaechi that power is earned through democracy, not by intimidation or violence.
He reaffirmed President Tinubu’s commitment to peace, democratic values, and national security.
‘His commitment to the unity and progress of our great nation is unwavering. Having experienced both military rule and democratic governance, he would never undermine the very democracy he has fought to uphold’, Matawalle stated.
He highlighted the administration’s achievements and expressed confidence that President Tinubu would secure victory in the 2027 presidential election.
Matawalle urged Nigerians to trust President Tinubu’s leadership and disregard the comments of Amaechi and his associates, describing them as ‘politically irrelevant and out of touch with current realities of national development’.
