Swear With Quran You Don’t Sponsor Bandits, Matawalle Tells Gov Lawal

The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has challenged Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, to swear by the Quran that he has no involvement in the banditry plaguing the state.

Matawalle challenged Lawal during an appearance on Channels TV’s ‘Sunrise Daily’ on Tuesday after Governor Lawal accused him of being linked to banditry and money laundering during his tenure as governor of Zamfara.

Matawalle had denied the claim and recalled that he had previously sworn an oath using the Quran to deny any connections to bandits.

“Let me remind you when I was a governor, I was the only governor that swore by the Holy Quran that I have no hand or connections with banditry or I am not happy with what is happening. I swore that if I was happy or part of it, God should not give me one second.

“I challenged all the politicians that time including Dauda, but none of them could take the oath. But I took it because I know my mind, I know I have a clean heart. And not only that, including all my councillors, chairmen, and commissioners, I will not give you an appointment, you have to take the oath,” Matawalle stated.

The minister urged Governor Lawal and other officials to emulate him by taking oath before religious leaders in the state, adding that refusal to do so would imply their involvement in the ongoing banditry.

“And up till tomorrow, I am challenging these people to take the oath that I have taken.

“They are part of the banditry, if not, let them take the oath with the holy Quran openly with all the Imams in Zamfara State. And since that time none of them have taken this oath.”

The war of words between the minister and governor comes as Zamfara people grapple with insecurity caused by banditry, which has led to mass displacement and loss of lives in the region.