In the face of growing public pressure, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle, has broken his silence regarding calls for his resignation which escalated following the resurfacing of a controversial video from his time as Zamfara State Governor. In the video, Matawalle described bandits terrorizing the North-West as “our brothers” who were pushed into violence due to marginalization, urging negotiation over military action. Now serving as the Minister of State for Defence, a position second only to the substantive Defence Minister, Matawalle has defended his qualification to hold the office despite the backlash.
Civil society groups, political commentators, and some Nigerian citizens have intensified their demands for Matawalle’s resignation, citing his past sympathetic stance toward bandits as incompatible with his current role in combating terrorism. Notably, the Good Governance and Accountability Monitoring Group called on President Bola Tinubu to sack Matawalle in November 2025, accusing him of “poor performance” amid continuing insecurity. Zamfara Governor Dauda Lawal echoed this call in September 2024, alleging Matawalle’s links to bandit groups, a claim the minister has consistently denied.
Criticism has also come from former presidential spokespersons and security analysts. Denge Josef Onoh, a former spokesperson for President Tinubu, urged Matawalle to “do the honourable thing” and resign immediately, emphasizing that describing terrorists as “victims deserving of amnesty” is incompatible with the duties of a defence minister. Onoh stated, “The men and women in uniform, the widows and orphans of fallen heroes, and the millions of displaced citizens deserve nothing less” than a firm stance against terrorism.
Despite the intense public scrutiny, sources within the presidency hint that Matawalle may retain his position as part of a broader security strategy. A presidency official remarked that Matawalle’s deployment in recent operations, including a response following student abductions in Kebbi, signals his continued role in coordinating security efforts. Nonetheless, opposition within and outside government intensifies, with some politicians and activists calling for not just his removal but also the scrapping of the Ministry of State for Defence, citing ineffectiveness and alleged complicity in insecurity.
Matawalle’s own recent statements affirm his readiness and qualification to serve as Minister of State for Defence, standing by his approach that focuses on peace negotiations and reintegration alongside military action. The debate continues as Nigeria grapples with widespread banditry, insurgency, and repeated high-profile abductions, putting the country’s security leadership under intense scrutiny.
