National
Matawalle needs prayers to end insecurity, not political distractions – Forum
The Middle-Belt Forum of good Governance, says that the Hon. Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle, requires prayers and support to restore the nation’s security, rather than distractions and condemnation from partisan politics.
The National Coordinator of the Forum, Idoko Uche, said this during an interactive session with journalists.
He highlighted that several notorious bandits in Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, and Kaduna States have been neutralized recently in what was described as one of the most effective, concerted, and coordinated military operations in Nigeria.
According to him, the ongoing military offensive in the North West region has yielded positive results in the past three weeks.
“This was achieved following the directive of President Bola Tinubu, for Dr. Matawalle, Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa and other top military officers relocate to Sokoto for a second time, to eradicate bandits in the region.
A renowned strategist with immense political savvy and determination, Dr. Matawalle quickly visited Sabon Birnin, Goronyo, and Rabah, as well as Isa Local Government Area, which shares a boundary with Shinkafi Local Government Area in Zamfara State, and borders Sabon Birnin, Goronyo in Sokoto State, and Niger Republic.
“These areas are notorious for arms smuggling through porous borders. Bandit kingpin Bello Turji and his cohorts are in disarray, with no option but to surrender or face elimination, like their mentor Habibu Sububu,” Uche said.
He further stated that the success so far reflects the total commitment of Dr. Matawalle and Gen. Musa in flushing out the criminal elements that have terrorized the region for over 15 years.
These criminals he said, have engaged in kidnapping for ransom, killings, armed robbery, rape, illegal taxation, extortion, and displacing people from their communities, exerting control over rural areas.
“We call on unscrupulous politicians, misguided clerics, local residents, traditional rulers, and unpatriotic security agents to stop sabotaging the fight against banditry in the North West region, which is being effectively coordinated by Dr. Matawalle and the military chiefs.
“The synergy between the security agencies and the Minister of State for Defence is a clear testament to the effectiveness of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at restoring national security, prosperity, and greatness.
“Anyone who disparages those leading the fight against banditry, insurgency, militancy, and terrorism is either aiding these criminals or is unhappy with the president’s resolve to end insecurity in Nigeria,” Uche said.
According to him, any serving, or former governor, or retired military officer who distracts the ongoing military operation in the North West is a saboteur looking to siphon security funds for personal gain.
He revealed that it is clear that some governors exploit insecurity to loot funds and want the crisis to persist. They should stop this unpatriotic act, as they will eventually be held accountable for their actions.
“What the Minister of State for Defence, Chief of Defence Staff, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, and other security chiefs need are prayers, encouragement, and logistical support to eradicate banditry in the North West, not personal attacks or condemnation that hinder this crucial national mission.
“It is unfortunate that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Zamfara State has resorted to politicizing national security, displaying ignorance of military command structures and operations, which shows the party is out of ideas and confused in its attempt to discredit Matawalle.
“Claiming that the Minister of State for Defence abandoned his home state of Zamfara to coordinate the fight against banditry in Sokoto is an insult to Nigerians who desire public safety, peace, and unity, and reduces serious national issues to mundane partisan politics.
“President Tinubu directed the Minister of State for Defence, the Chief of Defence Staff, and other top military officers to relocate to Sokoto at the 8th Division of the Nigerian Army, which covers Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, and Katsina States.
“In line with military command structures, the 8th Division oversees military activities in these areas. However, out of ignorance, the PDP in Zamfara criticized Matawalle for staying in Sokoto instead of Zamfara to coordinate the anti-banditry operations with military chiefs.
“Dr. Bello Matawalle is a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, not a minister of Zamfara State”, according to the forum’s Coordinator.
Uche disclosed that President Bola Tinubu directed the minister to relocate to Sokoto, along with the Chief of Defence Staff, to coordinate the fight against banditry in the North West, which also covers Zamfara.
He noted that, “In this operation, the notorious bandit kingpin Jamilu Sububu, among others, was neutralized.
“Sadly, the same PDP that frustrated Matawalle’s efforts in providing public safety and order in Zamfara and the nation is now hypocritically making noise that Matawalle operates from Sokoto instead of Zamfara in the fight to eliminate bandits in the North West.
“This is the danger of do-or-die politics, which replaces progressive governance in a misguided attempt to have the president drop him as a minister, thereby elongating PDP misrule in Zamfara.”
National
Enugu Ministers’ Roundtable To Equip Church Leaders for Spiritual Harvest, Says KARM Leader
The Kingdom Apostolic Revival Ministries (KARM) has unveiled plans for a significant gathering dubbed the Enugu Ministers’ Roundtable, aimed at equipping church leaders and workers for what its convener describes as an “imminent harvest of souls.”
The announcement was made on Tuesday by Apostle John Enelamah, leader of KARM, in a statement released to journalists,on Tuesday.
The conference, scheduled for 11-12 April 2025 at the Jesus the Way Gospel Mission Auditorium in New Era Layout, Akwunanu, Enugu, is expected to draw ministers and church workers from across Nigeria’s South East and South South regions.
Apostle Enelamah emphasised that the event would not only address the spiritual needs of attendees but also tackle their temporal concerns, while fostering discussions on expanding the reach of the Christian faith.
“The Ministers’ Roundtable is a forum where ministers and church workers will come together to fellowship and receive the Word of God, equipping them for the great work ahead,” Enelamah said.
“God’s move and revival are sweeping across the nations, and Nigeria has a pivotal role to play in these end times.”
Enelamah highlighted Enugu’s strategic importance in the South East as a key reason for hosting the event there, noting that the conference would serve as a springboard for further outreach in the region.
He also revealed plans for a future gathering, the Mission To West Africa (MTWA) Conference, set to take place in Umuahia in February 2026.
The Enugu Ministers’ Roundtable will feature prominent Christian leaders, including Archbishop Chris Ede of the Methodist Church Nigeria, Enugu Archdiocese; Bishop Obi Onubuogu of Rock Family Church; and Apostle Chuks Alozie of the Abia Apostolic Intercessory Team.
The event will be hosted by Rev John Uga, with sessions running from 9am to 4pm on 11 April and resuming at 9am on 12 April.
In his statement, Enelamah urged ministers “thirsty and hungry for greater exploits in their ministry” to attend, promising a spiritually enriching experience that would “build up our most holy faith.”
He added that KARM intends to collaborate closely with ministers in Enugu and other parts of southern Nigeria to strengthen the church’s mission.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council, has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Rivers State Police Command to tender an unreserved public apology over the assault on five journalists during a peaceful protest in Port Harcourt or risk a statewide media blackout.
In a statement jointly signed by the Council Chairman, Comrade Paul Bazia, and Secretary, Dr. Ijeoma Tubosia, the NUJ condemned the actions of police officers involved, demanding their immediate identification and prosecution.
“The NUJ, as a watchdog of society, will not sit idly by while media practitioners are subjected to barbarism and brutality. Enough is enough,” the statement warned, noting that any further attack on journalists in the state would be “vehemently resisted.”
The union described the incident as “unprovoked, barbaric, and inhuman,” saying it amounted to a gross violation of the rights of the affected journalists.
Those assaulted include Charles Opurum of Channels TV, Allwell Ene of Naija FM, Soibelemari Oruwari of Nigeria Info, Ikezam Godswill of AIT, and Femi Ogunkhilede of Super FM.
The journalists were tear-gassed while covering the protest, with Opurum beaten, and detained by security operatives.
Expressing deep regret over the incident, the NUJ lamented that an institution tasked with safeguarding lives and property has turned its weapons on citizens, particularly journalists performing their lawful duties.
Despite the provocation, the union reaffirmed its commitment to constructive engagement and partnership with the police in the interest of peace and national development.
It, however, cautioned the police not to jeopardise the existing relationship with the media.
The NUJ also urged its members to remain calm and law-abiding, expressing hope that the police authorities would take decisive steps to address the matter and ensure a more respectful working relationship with journalists in Rivers State.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima says Nigeria’s federal structure is not the problem, but rather the lack of collective fiscal responsibility.
He spoke on Tuesday at Leadership Newspaper’s annual conference and awards at the State House in Abuja.
Shettima said the problems attributed to the federal system often stem from poor management of resources, not from any inherent flaw in the constitutional architecture.
He noted that the country’s challenge ”lies less in the structure of our federalism and more in the deficit of our collective fiscal responsibility”.
The vice-president said the issue is not merely how much each federating unit accrues, but how such resources are utilised.
He said the administration, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, is confronting this challenge directly through reforms.
“We have chosen the path of reform. It is bold, often difficult, but necessary,” Shettima said.
“To those who argue that Nigeria’s federalism is fundamentally flawed because of its fiscal nature, I urge caution. Federalism, as practised around the world, is not a one-size-fits-all system. There is no universal template. Each country’s federal arrangement is shaped by its history, culture, and political experience.”
He also mentioned the pursuit of local government autonomy, which he said is being realised through the sanctity of due legal process.
Shettima also cited examples of federalism in other countries, such as Canada, Germany, and Spain, to show that no federal system is perfect and that each country’s arrangement is shaped by its history, culture, and political experience.
He urged caution against romanticising foreign systems or prescribing imported solutions that fail to account for Nigeria’s distinct social, ethnic, and demographic complexities.
“What we seek, therefore, is not a photocopy of another country’s model, but a federal structure tailored to our aspirations. It must reflect our values, ensure accountability, and foster development at all levels,” he said.
“The only road to such a destination is through sincere dialogue, and this conference is a laudable example.
“The policy choices pursued by this administration-from the removal of fuel subsidies to the introduction of tax reform bills-are aimed not only at guaranteeing a fiscally responsible federation but also at creating a system that offers each state both increased allocations and the opportunity to participate in debates and reforms for long-term fiscal stability.”
Shettima said the greatest threats to Nigeria’s progress have stemmed from the mismanagement of resources and corruption.
He stressed that what matters most to everyday Nigerians is not the abstract theory of federalism, but whether governance delivers basic necessities like water, electricity, schools, roads, and hospitals.