The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has said that the Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, and General Ali Gusau are privy to the activities of bandits in the state.
He spoke following the accusation by Lawal that he housed bandits in the Government House and paid them while he was governor.
Matawalle, who spoke on a Channels Television programme: “Sunrise Daily,” challenged Governor Lawal and General Gusau to swear by the Quran if his accusation was a lie.
He said: “It was not only I that dialogue with bandits.
“Remember all the governors dialogued.
“The then governors of Niger and Sokoto States did the same.
“Why only me?
“Because it is Zamfara.
“Zamfara is a very complex state with terrible human beings with devilish ideas.
“Let me remind you I was the only governor that swore to the Holy Quran that I have no hand or connection with banditry or I am not happy with what is happening that if I am happy or if I am part of it or if I know those doing it or if I am collaborating with them God should not give me one-second grace.
“I challenged all the politicians, including General Ali Gusau and Dauda Lawal, to do the same.
“None of them could take the oath, and if they don’t take the oath, that means they are part of it.”
