Former Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle has dismissed allegations of aiding banditry levelled against him by the state Governor, Dauda Lawal.

Matawalle, now Minister of State for Defence, has however challenged his successor to swear on the Quran to prove their innocence in the banditry crisis plaguing the state.

“I was the only governor to swear on the Holy Quran that I have no hand in banditry. I challenge 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,” Matawalle said.

Lawal had urged the minister to resign in order to clear his name. According to Lawal, the former governor kept terrorists at the government house, and ransom was paid to terrorists through the government.

Matawalle, however, defended his decision to engage in dialogue with bandits, a practice he says was supported by several governors and has led to the recovery of abducted persons and ammunition in Zamfara.

“They should bring any proof of that,” the minister said.

“Because I engage in dialogue, it was not only me. Remember that all the governors dialogue; the governor of Niger State engaged in dialogue with bandits, and the governor of Sokoto did the same. Why am I singled out? Because it is Zamfara.”

“Zamfara is a very complex state with terrible human beings and devilish ideas.”

Matawalle also indicated that his accusers are all involved in the activities they have alleged against him.

“I have always acted in good faith, as have other governors who engaged in dialogue with bandits, including the Governor of Niger State, Abubakar Sani Bello, and the Governor of Sokoto State. Yet, I seem to be singled out, perhaps because Zamfara is a complex state with terrible human beings and devilish ideas,” he stated.

The former governor of Zamfara also denied allegations of siphoning state funds, claiming these were fabrications of the present governor of the state, Dauda Lawal.

He said, “In my four years, I did not ever receive that money. The records are there, the indices are with the Ministry of Finance. It is on record, and let me tell you, I don’t understand; I pity Dauda (Zamfara Gov). I thought for now he should concentrate on giving good governance to the people of Zamfara State. I thought, for now, he should concentrate on the issue of insecurity.”

“I thought, for now, he should realise that governance is a continuous process because if he is in that seat today, tomorrow he will not be. But how can someone come and be telling lies, a whole governor coming to deceive the public?”

Lawal accused the immediate past governor, Matawalle, of stealing over ₦70 billion from the state government. He decried that despite evidence made available to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC the commission has not done much to recover the loot.