A cohort of former commissioners who served during the tenure of ex-Zamfara governor and current Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, convened a press conference in Gusau on Monday, the 8th of December, 2025, to publicly affirm his continued importance in the national political landscape.
The group emphatically stated that Matawalle “remains a dependable political figure within President Bola Tinubu’s camp ahead of the 2027 general elections.”
The former state officials lauded Matawalle’s consistent service, highlighting his effective participation in both state and federal duties. They collectively described his support for the current administration as “notable.”
Suleiman Tunau Anka, who served as former commissioner of information and acted as the group’s spokesperson, pointed specifically to the Minister’s strong background in security matters. Anka noted that Matawalle’s previous roles, including his time “chairing the House Committee on Security and Intelligence during his time in the House of Representatives,” have provided him with substantial security expertise.
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The ex-commissioners also commended Matawalle’s strategies for combating insecurity during his gubernatorial term from 2019 to 2023. They specifically referenced his deployment of “both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies to address insecurity in Zamfara.” Furthermore, they credited him with actively supporting “the establishment of key military operations in the North-West” and contributing to significant “restructuring efforts at the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria.”
Beyond his executive and security contributions, the group emphasized Matawalle’s political weight within the ruling party, evidenced by his key role as the “North-West coordinator of the Tinubu-Shettima campaign in 2023.” This campaign position, they argued, solidified his political standing.
Concluding their appeal, the former commissioners urged President Tinubu to maintain Matawalle in his present ministerial role. They stressed that ensuring continuity in the Ministry of Defence would be essential as the preparations for the 2027 elections accelerate.