Arewa group accuses Matawalle of ‘smear campaign’ against Dauda, ex-NSA Gasau

The Arewa Integrity League, on Friday, accused Minister of State for Defence Bello Matawalle of orchestrating a deliberate media smear campaign targeting key political figures.

The group claimed that Matawalle had manipulated false reports to falsely implicate Zamfara Governor Dauda Lawal Dare, former NSA Aliyu Gusau, and Defence Minister Badaru in criminal activities allegedly tied to his former aide, Bashir Hadeja.

The group spokesman, Comrade Musa Garba, emphasized in a statement that Hadeja’s involvement in a recent family dispute within Matawalle’s household raises further suspicions about the Minister’s motives.

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Garba said: “Matawalle stands accused of orchestrating a false report linking Zamfara Governor Dauda Lawal Dare, former NSA Aliyu Gusau, and Defence Minister Badaru to the alleged criminal activities of his former aide, Bashir Hadeja.

“Bashir, who for many years managed Matawalle’s Gold mining site deals in Zamfara as his Special Assistant, was recently embroiled in a Matawalle family feud. This context raises suspicions about Matawalle’s motives.”

The group noted that Matawalle has been at loggerheads with Governor Dare and former NSA Gusau for years, with tensions escalating in recent weeks.

The group warned Nigerians to be cautious of Matawalle’s alleged misinformation tactics, exposing his plan to use Hadeja’s situation to tarnish the reputations of his adversaries.

Garba said that the former NSA Gusau is more sophisticated, beyond Matawalle’s smear campaign and no Nigerian would believe Matawalle’s media campaign against the man.

“As for governor Lawal Dare, it is obvious that Matawalle is uncomfortable that the current governor is doing his best to rescue the state from Matawalle’s destructive legacies. This expose aims to set the record straight and alert the public to Matawalle’s smear campaign.”