By Lizzy Chirkpi
The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Mohammed Matawalle, has pledged to mobilise support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027, declaring his determination to ensure the President completes an eight-year tenure.
Matawalle made the pledge on Thursday while addressing a gathering of All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters at his residence in Gusau, Zamfara State, ahead of the scheduled visit of the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, to the state on Friday.
The minister urged party members, stakeholders and supporters to intensify grassroots mobilisation for Tinubu’s second-term ambition and support for Governor Dauda Lawal and other APC candidates in the state.
“I am highly committed to ensuring the President completes his eight-year tenure,” Matawalle declared.
He said that after discharging his responsibilities as Minister of State for Defence, particularly in addressing the country’s security challenges, his next priority would be to work towards Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
Matawalle commended the President’s efforts to tackle insecurity, improve infrastructure and promote political cohesion, expressing confidence in his capacity to continue providing leadership for the country.
He also dismissed allegations and speculation about the President’s health, describing them as propaganda and insisting that Tinubu was fit to continue in office.
On the security situation in Zamfara, the minister assured residents that the Federal Government would strengthen security deployments along major highways to protect motorists and other commuters from bandit attacks.
He specifically identified the Talata Mafara-Gusau-Sokoto highway, as well as the Gummi-Anka-Bukkuyum and Tsafe access roads, as routes that would receive additional security attention.
“We will deploy security forces along the Talata Mafara-Gusau-Sokoto highway to ensure the safe movement of commuters.
“We will also deploy security personnel to ensure the safety of those travelling along the Gummi, Anka, Bukkuyum and Tsafe roads,” he said.
On the controversy surrounding the rerun election in Zamfara North Senatorial District, Matawalle rejected suggestions that the developments were aimed at weakening his political influence or deepening divisions within the APC.
He questioned the rationale behind the violence that reportedly marred the rerun elections in Kaura Namoda and Birnin Magaji, arguing that political disagreements should not degenerate into violence.
“Those who caused the crisis during the rerun elections in Kaura Namoda and Birnin Magaji know whether they can emerge victorious or not.
“If victory is on your side, what is the essence of creating a crisis? We will not fight or attack anybody,” he said.
Earlier, the Director-General of the Tinubu Again Movement, Dr Auwal Abdullahi, urged APC members to intensify mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Abdullahi disclosed that the movement had developed welfare and empowerment programmes targeting youths, women and other segments of society as part of its political mobilisation strategy.
He said the initiatives were designed to ensure equitable distribution of empowerment opportunities among beneficiaries across different segments of society.
He urged party faithful to remain actively engaged in the campaign for Tinubu’s re-election and the APC’s electoral success in 2027.