The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has addressed allegations of a potential conspiracy to undermine President Bola Tinubu in the upcoming 2027 elections. The former governor of Zamfara State made these statements in response to visits by prominent figures such as the PDP presidential candidate in 2023, Atiku Abubakar, former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, and former PDP chairman, Ali Modu-Sheriff, to the Daura residence of former president Muhammadu Buhari.
Political analysts have interpreted these visits as a sign of a coordinated effort by the northern region to challenge President Tinubu in the forthcoming general election. Through the spokesperson of the Ministry of Defence, Henshaw Ogubike, Matawalle labeled those implicated in the alleged plot as “disloyal politicians in the northern region.”He accused these politicians of lacking grassroots support and embodying a sense of entitlement.
The minister firmly asserted that northern politicians with strong foundations unequivocally backed Tinubu. He expressed confidence that the purported conspiracy would not succeed, highlighting the substantial progress the region had experienced under Tinubu’s leadership. Matawalle underscored the significant appointments of northerners in Tinubu’s administration, including his position as Minister of State for Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar as Minister of Defence, Atiku Bagudu as Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Muhammed Idris as Minister of Information and National Orientation, Ali Pate as Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Abubakar Kyari as Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Jamila Bio Ibrahim as Minister of Youths, Shuaibu Audu as Minister of Steel Development, Joseph Utsve as Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, and Yusuf Tuggar as Minister of Foreign Affairs, among other ministers of state.
Regarding the security sector, Matawalle referenced key figures such as the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, Director-General of the Department of Security Service (DSS), Yusuf Bauchi, Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufai, Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, and Chief of Air Staff, Hasan Abubakar, alongside the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, and the Managing Director of the Nigeria Ports Authority, Bello Koko, all of whom hail from the northern region.
Matawalle encouraged the political elite in the north to throw their support behind Tinubu in advancing his Renewed Hope agenda and bolstering the nation’s economy and political landscape.
Prominent northern figures such as Atiku Abubakar, Nasir El-Rufai, and Ali Modu-Sheriff should cease their anti-Tinubu tactics ahead of the 2027 Presidency. It is imperative for the political elite in the northern region to unite and support President Bola Tinubu in his efforts to advance the Renewed Hope agenda and strengthen Nigeria’s economy and political environment. The progress and significant appointments of northerners in Tinubu’s administration demonstrate his commitment to inclusivity and development. It is crucial for all politicians to prioritize national interests over personal agendas and work together for the betterment of the country.
