The Niger Delta Youth Congress (NDYC) has accused political figures of undermining national security through a “smear campaign” against Dr. Bello Matawalle, Minister of State for Defence.
In a statement released yesterday, the NDYC specifically named Hon. Aminu Sani Jaji as leading what they termed “a deliberate and calculated attempt to sabotage the ongoing fight against insecurity and destabilize the national security apparatus for selfish political gains.”
The youth organization praised Matawalle’s counterterrorism efforts, citing recent military operations that reportedly “neutralized over 40 terrorists” in Zamfara, Kebbi, and other states affected by violent crime.
“These attacks on Dr. Matawalle’s credibility emerged just days after the Nigerian military, under his watch, executed a highly successful operation against terrorist strongholds,” claimed NDYC National Coordinator Comrade Israel Uwejeyan, who signed the statement.
The group contends that the timing suggests certain political actors “would prefer to see insecurity persist rather than support the government’s decisive actions against terrorism.”
Calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reject what they described as “politics of distraction,” the NDYC urged security agencies to investigate individuals allegedly undermining national security efforts for political advantage.
The statement directly addressed Hon. Jaji, advising him and associates to “present genuine concerns through appropriate legal and democratic channels rather than resort to malicious propaganda.”
While the NDYC’s statement referenced “baseless allegations” against Matawalle, it did not specify the nature of the accusations made by Hon. Jaji or provide details of the evidence supporting either side’s claims.
The organization concluded by pledging continued support for Matawalle and calling for Nigerian youth to “remain vigilant against political manipulations that serve only to divide and weaken our nation.”