Two organizations have spoken out against recent comments made by the Minister of State for Defense, Hon. Bello Matawalle, regarding former Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. Matawalle had accused Amaechi of inciting the public against the Federal Government, which led to strong rebuttals from both the Initiative for Transparent Strategy and Good Leadership (ITSGL) and Legendary Media Forensic Czars for Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi.
In a statement issued by ITSGL’s Publicity Secretary, Eric Justice Owuge, the organization condemned Matawalle’s remarks, calling them “a clear sign of hatred” and an attempt to stifle free speech in the country. Owuge argued that the Defense Minister’s (State) threat to “deal with” Amaechi was not just an attack on the former governor, but on the democratic rights of Nigerians to express their opinions.
“It is an obvious fact that this threat is not just against Amaechi but against the Nigerian people and our democracy. If people are not allowed to make statements and observations dispassionately about politics and governance, then we are as good as being in the animal kingdom,” Owuge said.
The ITSGL representative also criticized Matawalle’s record as governor of Zamfara State, particularly his handling of the Boko Haram insurgency, which Owuge claimed was allowed to spread under Matawalle’s watch. He challenged the Defense Minister to focus on addressing security issues in Zamfara rather than attacking Amaechi.
“We all know about the inefficiency of Matawalle when he was the governor of Zamfara State, allowing Boko Haram insurgents to take over parts of the state. Nothing was done until he left office in 2023. Matawalle seems to be seeking cheap political sympathy from President Tinubu by discrediting Amaechi’s honest observations,” Owuge stated.
Owuge further urged Matawalle to use his position to improve security in his state rather than making unfounded attacks on Amaechi, calling for greater focus on addressing the challenges facing the people of Zamfara.
Similarly, the Legendary Media Forensic Czars for Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi rejected Matawalle’s accusations, calling them false and misleading. The group, led by Convener Ikechi Akpuh, praised Amaechi for his efforts to combat crime and improve security during his tenure as Rivers State governor.
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Akpuh emphasized that Amaechi’s administration had successfully dealt with issues like cultism and violence in Rivers State, a move that forced many criminals to flee the state.
“As the former Governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi declared zero tolerance for insecurity and fought criminality to a standstill. His efforts made the state safer, forcing criminals to flee for safety. Amaechi is known for his peaceful nature and commitment to good governance. His record as a law-abiding citizen of Nigeria speaks for itself,” Akpuh said.
Akpuh also urged Nigerians to support the right to free speech, especially as the country approaches the next general elections.
He described Matawalle’s statements as “untrue, unfounded, baseless, and hate speech” against a man who has been a “foremost unblemished frontline Nigerian democrat.”
The organizations’ responses come as the political climate in Nigeria heats up ahead of the 2027 elections. Both ITSGL and Legendary Media Forensic Czars have called for an end to personal attacks and a greater focus on constructive dialogue that promotes the nation’s democratic values. They also stressed the importance of allowing Nigerians to freely discuss issues that affect governance without fear of retaliation.
Amaechi, for his part, has remained steadfast in his commitment to using constructive criticism to support good governance and development. His supporters continue to rally behind him, urging the public to disregard the recent attacks by Matawalle and to focus on building a better, more transparent Nigeria.