The Minister of State for Defence Bello Matawalle, has recounted that he was the only Governor that swore by the Quran that he has no hand or connections with banditry, challenging the present Government in Zamfara State to do same.
Matawalle said this during an interview with Channel TV’s Sunrise Daily, on Tuesday, September 24.
He said this while rejecting claims by Zamfara Governor Dauda Lawal, alleging that he is involved in banditry in the region.
Lawal had earlier urged Matawalle to voluntarily step down to address accusations of banditry sponsorship and money laundering during his tenure as Governor.
Debunking the allegations, Matawalle said: “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 seconds.
“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 councilors, chairmen, commissioners, I will not give you appointment, you have to take the oath.
“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.”
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