The Northern Awareness Network (NAN) has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene in what it described as a coordinated smear campaign targeting the Minister of State for Defence, Mohammed Bello Matawalle, warning that the development could unsettle the North’s already fragile security and political climate.
In a statement signed by its chairman, Salihu Sulaiman, the group alleged that following last week’s resignation of the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, “certain political actors” had intensified efforts to discredit Matawalle for what it called “purely political motives.”
NAN claimed that the backlash was part of a broader scheme aimed at weakening President Tinubu’s support base in the North ahead of the 2027 elections.
According to Sulaiman, intelligence available to the organisation suggested that Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, was linked to activities allegedly designed to mobilise unrest and fuel protests against the minister — a move it warned could escalate tensions in the North-West.
“These machinations are clearly designed to destabilise the region and erode the President’s strong support base,” the group said. “The President must be wary of anyone seeking to weaken his administration through orchestrated attacks on loyal allies like Matawalle.”
NAN also drew parallels between ongoing security anxieties in Kebbi State and the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction in Borno State, warning that any missteps in managing the current situation could trigger political ripple effects.
The group said Matawalle had demonstrated commitment to stabilising the North’s security landscape and had earned public trust across several communities.
“Northern Nigeria stands united in appreciating Matawalle’s efforts. His initiatives have yielded tangible results, and attempts to smear him are mere distractions from the real issues,” the statement added.
NAN urged President Tinubu to publicly reaffirm his confidence in Matawalle, describing the minister as “a key pillar” in sustaining political cohesion and public confidence in the region. It cautioned that sidelining him would amount to “a strategic miscalculation” ahead of the next general elections.
The group also called on the presidency to openly dismiss what it described as “baseless and politically motivated attacks,” insisting that the smear campaign was detrimental to both national security efforts and the stability of the North.
ENDS
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