Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has denounced what he describes as a coordinated media campaign driven by the opposition against the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, saying the attacks are unjustified and politically motivated.
In a statement shared on his behalf
According to him, Matawalle has been one of the most dedicated officials in the fight against insurgents since he took office.
Fani-Kayode also credited the collaboration between Matawalle and the National Security Advisor (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, for significantly boosting security operations, stating that more terrorists have been neutralized in the last two years than in the previous eight years combined.
He added that his biggest concern is that these achievements are not publicized.
The former minister welcomed the appointment of General Christopher Musa as Defense Minister and expressed confidence that the combined leadership of Musa, Ribadu, Matawalle and the new service chiefs will strengthen national security efforts.
He urged Matawalle to remain focused and continue his work despite what he described as attempts to discredit him.
He wrote: “The cruel media campaign orchestrated by the opposition against the Minister of State for Defence, @Bellomatawalle1, seems brazen and nauseating to me.
“I say this given the fact that this man has shown more loyalty to @officialABAT and more commitment to the war against terrorists than virtually anyone else since taking office.
“The combination of him and NSA @NuhuRibadu has resulted in the killing of more terrorists in the last two years than in the previous eight combined.
“My only complaint is that for some reason they don’t make this public and let the world know, which I think they should do.
“Now that General Christopher Musa, who was an extremely efficient Chief of Defense Staff, has been appointed Minister of Defence, I have no doubt that the combination of him, Ribadu and Matawalle, together with the other new Service Chiefs, will make an even bigger difference.
“I urge my friend and brother Matawalle to stay focused, continue the good work and ignore the distractions of “bad beauty” despite all efforts to discredit and undermine him.
“I, along with many others, have confidence in him and wish him the best. I know that he is a ruthless and brave fighter who takes no prisoners in a fight or shows mercy to the enemy.
“It is those traits, which I share, that make me love him so much and that have made us as close as we have been in the last 15 years.
“I urge you to continue the good fight, make our nation proud, and give hell to our nation’s enemies and agitators.
“We are with you, my brother, and most importantly, God is behind you.”
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