The Niger Delta Youth Congress (NDYC) has issued a strong appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging him to ignore what it calls a coordinated political smear campaign against the Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Mohammad Bello Matawalle. The group insists the President should retain Matawalle in his cabinet, framing the recent criticisms as a destabilising plot.
A Coordinated Plot to Undermine Northern Support
In a statement released by its National Coordinator, Comrade Israel Uwejeyan, the NDYC alleged that the recent wave of criticism targeting Minister Matawalle is not organic. The group described it as part of an "engineered political plot" orchestrated by individuals and power blocs who are threatened by Matawalle's rising profile.
According to the NDYC, these actors fear Matawalle's influence as one of President Tinubu's most trusted northern allies. The attacks, they claim, are strategically designed to weaken the administration's foundation as the country moves towards the 2027 general elections.
"The masterminds behind these attacks believe that weakening Matawalle is the shortest route to weakening President Tinubu’s political consolidation in the North," the statement declared. It further portrayed Matawalle as a "stabilising force" and a critical bridge-builder within the President's northern political base.
NDYC Warns of Grave Strategic Mistake
The youth organisation cautioned that it would be a "grave strategic mistake" for President Tinubu to succumb to any pressure aimed at sidelining the Defence Minister. Such a move, they argued, would only empower those seeking to create fractures and instability within the government.
The NDYC dismissed the motivations behind the campaign, stating they are rooted in political insecurity, envy, and fear rather than patriotism. "It has become evident that the detractors want him out of government solely because his loyalty to the President threatens their larger agenda ahead of 2027," the group asserted.
They accused unnamed political actors of sponsoring misinformation and twisting narratives to erode public trust in the minister and, by extension, the presidency.
Call for Unity and Stability
Reaffirming its support for President Tinubu's security initiatives, the NDYC emphasised Matawalle's indispensable role in defence and national unity efforts. The group described him as a committed supporter of national security reforms and a consistent presidential ally.
"We affirm without hesitation that standing with loyal allies like Matawalle is the only way for the President to maintain national cohesion, political stability, and broad-based support heading into 2027," the statement concluded.
The NDYC's final warning was clear: removing a key loyalist like Matawalle would create unnecessary distractions and fuel political instability at a time when Nigeria desperately requires unity and focused governance.
