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Seeks President Tinubu’s support
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has thrown its weight behind Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle amid allegations of sponsoring banditry, describing the allegations as baseless and politically motivated.
NANS asserted that the former Zamfara governor is being unfairly targeted at a time the country needed unity to tackle worsening insecurity.
The national student body made this in a Friday statement signed by its Senate President, Comrade Usman.
According to the statement, the allegations were part of a deliberate campaign to politicise national security for selfish interests.
Passing vote of confidence on Matawalle, NANS said: “We have it on good notes that he is merely a target of media blackmail and political persecution.
“NANS as an organisation does not represent such barbarism. We are mainly concerned about Nigeria as a nation and the citizens therein, especially the students.”
The student body maintained that the allegations against Matawalle which includes claims of maintaining contact with notorious terrorist commanders and providing them with support, lacked no evidence.
It averredthat independent investigators, NANS and journalists have found the accusations to be baseless, unfounded and politically motivated.
“To this end, we therefore urge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to give Minister Matawale the necessary support as he faces investigation into the allegations and protect him from campaigns of calumny from charlatans who mean no good for our great country, Nigeria,” the statement reads in part.
“We also beseech Mr. President to as a matter of urgency, declare a state of emergency on insecurity and further empower our armed forces to go harder on all enemies of the nation, in a bid to restore peace and stability.
“Conclusively, we call on all Nigerians to join in supporting the defense ministry and especially, Minister Bello Matawale and rejecting the politics of character assassination.
“We strongly believe that Matawalle is a dedicated public servant who has the best interests of the country at heart and at this critical moment, we cannot afford to, as a country lose our best hands in the name of politics.”
