Tinubu Urged to Keep Anti-corruption Promise as Nigerian Youths Demand the Sack of Minister of State for Defence

Empowerment for Unemployed Youths Initiative (EUYI) a frontline national civil society organisation has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to fulfill his campaign promises and rid his administration of corruption and ineptitude.

EUYI whose focus is mainly in promoting youth empowerment through policy reforms and engagement with relevant stakeholders specifically called for the removal of the Minister of State for Defence, citing alleged corrupt practices and gross ineptitude.

In a letter to Mr. President dated 24th of April and signed by Comrade Danesi Momoh and Comrade Igwe Ude-Umanta; National Coordinator and National Secretary of EUYI respectively, copies of which were made available to journalists in Abuja, the group commended President Tinubu for his efforts in stabilising the country and listening to yearnings of Nigerians but emphasided the need for him to fulfill his promise to stamp out corruption from his administration.

The letter read in part, “Mr President, we will not stop commending you for steering the ship of the Nigerian State from the troubled waters where you took over and achieving measurable stability with clear assurances of the Renewed Hope Agenda you promised, which is where we are. We are grateful also that you listen to citizens and have carefully worked to meet their needs.

“Very importantly, you promised to stamp out corruption and ineptitude from your adminstration and have only recently, launched a performance assessment system for your administration. Nigerians are keenly watching. Many are worried that your desires and quest for excellence may be truncated by political exigencies. We are however hopeful that Your Excellency will be strict and firm as usual without leaving any stone unturned”.

EUYI in their letter specifically urged Mr. President to prove himself worthy of his campaign promises by sacking Hon. Bello Matawalle, the Minister of State for Defence due to his running battles with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other scandals he has perpetrated even as a Minister and member of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

“The litmus test of your administration’s true position on corruption will be seen in the manner and way the serial allegations of corruption and ineptitude against the Minister of State for Defence and former Governor of Zamfara State, Hon. Bello Matawalle, will be handled.

“Regardless of his high political exposure and possible political capital, his lack of capacity and allegations of corruption, including his involvement in the $2.1 billion Arm Deal scandal as well as the ₦70 billion fraud case against him with the EFCC makes him unfit to remain a member of FEC. His presence taints the reputation of your administration and questions the Renewed Hope Agenda you’re vigorously pursuing. We expect you to act swiftly and speedily too to redeem the image of your adminstration”, the letter added.

While anticipating Mr. President’s positive and firm action to their request and giving the assurances of their good motives, the group averred that, “protests against persons like Hon. Bello Matawalle who is occupying a critical positions in your administration will not stop because of the moral burden and unresolved alleged crimes against them. Kindly take a stand in defence of your promise and rid characters like him off your government. We stand with you and will do our best to protect the image of your adminstration provided people like Bello Matawalle are not associated with you.

“Let it also be on record that failure to heed our patriotic request by Mr. President, we shall mobilise civil society organisations and all unemployed youths across the country to converge at the Unity Fountain, Abuja for a mother-of-all protests to demand Mr. Bello Matawalle’s immediate sack. “.