The Minister of Defence, Bello Matawalle has criticised the recent comments by Babachir Lawal, a former secretary to the government of the federation, regarding the 2027 presidential ambitions of President Bola Tinubu.
This was mentioned in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday. Mr Matawalle highlighted that Mr Lawal and his colleagues will be shocked by the overwhelming support the president will receive from the North and that Mr Tinubu has made admirable progress in his leadership.
He said that the president has implemented significant changes in many domains, including infrastructure, governance, security, and the economy.
According to the minister, in 2024, the security forces captured 11,600 perpetrators, killed over 8,000 terrorists and bandits, and retrieved over 10,000 weapons.
He claims that the North’s security has greatly improved as a result of this strong action.
He continued by saying that the government’s dedication to guaranteeing the security of every person was demonstrated by the successful recovery of almost 8,000 abduction victims.
Mr Matawalle added that Mr Tinubu’s administration had prioritised infrastructure projects vital for economic growth in the North, including road construction and improvement of transportation networks.
He said that the local government autonomy had empowered local administrations to function effectively, ensuring accountability and better governance at the grassroots.
“President Tinubu, who has been in office for just 19 months, has made significant contributions in all regions of Nigeria, including the North. The people of the North will rally behind Mr President to build upon the achievements and reforms he has initiated,” said Mr Matawalle.
He added, “The North remains steadfast in its support for President Tinubu. Any insinuation to the contrary is a deliberate attempt to sow discord and undermine our national security.”
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Mr Matawalle urged critics to evaluate Mr Tinubu’s scorecard objectively rather than dismissing his efforts, saying it was essential for them to assess the tangible benefits of the president’s reforms.
“We must unite in our support for Mr President as he continues to work towards a prosperous and secure Nigeria. Our support for President Tinubu is unwavering and unshakeable. We stand firmly behind his vision for a prosperous and secure Nigeria,” he added.
