Bello Matawalle, the minister of state for defense, has issued an injunction to all northern appointees, urging them to either resign from their positions or support President Bola Tinubu.
Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, who presently serves as the Special Adviser on Political Matters in the Presidency and was previously the spokesperson for the Northern Elders Forum, voiced dissenting views about the Minister’s defense of Tinubu’s administration, prompting Matawalle to make his call.
The minister attacked the NEF on Saturday for announcing that it regretted backing Tinubu in the general election of 2023.
He called the NEF’s conduct a political encumbrance on the North.
Baba-Ahmed, on the other hand, took offense at this remark, stating in his X post on Sunday that Matawalle was irrational and that a stronger defense could have been made.
He wrote, “Scathing criticism of NEF by a junior minister of defence, Matawalle, is ill-advised. He could have done a better job for this admin if he identified the contributions of especially northern ministers and other appointees like me to improving security and reducing poverty in the North.”
In defense of Baba-Ahmed, Matawalle issued a statement on Monday stating that, as an appointee of the current administration, he must contribute to its success and shield it from unjustified criticism based on narrow or ethnic interests.
“Consequent to my position on the recent attack on the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR by a spokesman of the Northern Elders Forum, it has come to my attention that Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed who once served as the Spokesperson of the group and currently a Special Adviser on Political Matters in the Presidency took to his page on it to express a different position.
“According to Dr Baba-Ahmed, my stand against the unjust and spurious attack against the new administration of President Tinubu which is working very hard to reposition our country and economy for the better is ‘ill-advised’. He suggested I could have done a better job in my defence of the administration where I have the rare honour of serving as a Minister.
“Dr. Baba-Ahmed’s relationship and affinity with the NEF is well-known. The fact now is that he is an appointee of the administration as Special Adviser and it is incumbent on him to work for the success of the government he is part of, protect and defend the government against unjust and vicious attacks from those who hide under ethnic and other primordial interests to heat the polity for myopic reasons.”
Matawalle emphasized that whomever is appointed under Tinubu has a big obligation to publicize and showcase the accomplishments of the government in all areas.
He stated, “It is pertinent to state that every appointee of President Tinubu including Dr. Baba-Ahmed owes the government a copious duty to promote, elucidate and advance the good works and commendable efforts of the government across all sectors.
“As appointees of the government from the North, we must all take a stand, be unequivocal and be counted in the roll of honours for our support and work for the success of the administration we are serving.”
The minister issued a warning, saying that in the face of intimidation or deception, this is not the time for complacency or silence but rather a chance to show allegiance or make room for those who will.
“This is not the time to keep quiet in the face of intimidation and misrepresentation of the efforts and achievements of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR. We must stand up to be counted for being on the part of the government or take our exit,” he added.
