Former Zamfara governorship candidate, Sani Shinkafi, has demanded the immediate removal of Bello Matawalle as Minister of State for Defence.
His call comes after a viral video resurfaced showing Matawalle, then serving as Zamfara governor, saying, “Not all of them are criminals,” in reference to bandits operating in the state.
The comments, recorded during a 2021 briefing at the State House in Abuja, have generated fresh public outrage.
Many Nigerians have questioned how a minister charged with defending the country could have made such remarks, especially at a time when banditry continues to claim lives across northern communities.
The public debate intensified throughout the week as citizens demanded accountability.
Shinkafi, responding to the renewed controversy, said the video reflects poorly on Matawalle’s capacity to confront the same groups he once appeared to defend.
He insisted that the minister should no longer remain in office and urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take decisive action.
The former governorship candidate noted that national security requires firm and experienced leadership, not individuals with questionable public statements linked to violent groups.
In his statement, Shinkafi also praised the appointment of retired General Christopher Musa as the new Minister of Defence.
He described Musa as a disciplined and competent officer who possesses the experience needed to lead the nation’s security operations.
According to him, General Musa’s military background demonstrates the government’s intention to reposition the Defence Ministry for tougher action against terrorism, insurgency, kidnapping, and armed banditry.
He stressed that the Ministry of Defence requires clear structure and authority, adding that the existence of the Minister of State for Defence has created unnecessary division in the command system.
Shinkafi argued that the office should be scrapped entirely.
He maintained that splitting strategic responsibilities between two ministers weakens coordination, especially in areas such as maritime security, veterans’ welfare, and the Defence Industries Corporation.
Shinkafi also faulted the qualifications of both Matawalle and the former Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, stating that their appointments were among the weakest decisions made in the defence sector in recent years.
According to him, the pair lacked the experience and depth needed to oversee complex national security challenges.
He added that Matawalle’s past comment, now trending across social media, further justifies his removal to avoid friction under the new Defence Minister.
He emphasized that allowing Matawalle to continue in office while General Musa leads the ministry could create conflicts and undermine ongoing reforms.
He called on the Minister of State to either resign honourably or be removed, saying national security must outweigh personal or political considerations.
Shinkafi insisted that Nigerians expect stronger leadership in the security sector, especially now that the country is still battling multiple threats across different regions.
The former governorship candidate ended by warning that the world is watching how Nigeria manages its defence structure at this critical time.
