The Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Muhammed Matawalle, has issued a stern rebuke to former Transport Minister Rotimi Amaechi over his recent call for Nigerians to protest against the nation’s economic hardship.
Matawalle accused Amaechi of attempting to incite violence and cautioned him against making remarks that could undermine national stability.
In a statement released by the Ministry of Defence’s Director of Information, Henshaw Ogubike, Matawalle condemned Amaechi’s comments as “reckless and irresponsible” for a former public official.
“It is both reckless and irresponsible for a former public servant of Amaechi’s standing to incite Nigerians against their own government,” Matawalle asserted.
He expressed concern over the dangers of such remarks, especially “at a time when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is working tirelessly to address the challenges facing the nation through various reforms that are yielding results.”
Matawalle condemned what he described as a ploy to exploit citizens’ hardships for personal political gain, labelling the rhetoric as “absurd, preposterous, and shameful.”
Reaffirming President Tinubu’s commitment to maintaining peace and security, the Defence Minister warned that any attempt to destabilise the country would not be tolerated.
“We will not allow anyone to fuel violence or manipulate the prevailing situation of our people,” he said, cautioning Amaechi against further inflammatory remarks.
“It is expected that Amaechi joins hands with the Government to move the country forward,” Matawalle concluded, adding that the former minister should abandon “myopic assertions” that fail to support national progress.
