The Northern Stakeholders Consultative Forum(NSCF) has said that the recent protests against the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Mohammed Matawalle, is a tactic employed by the anti-Tinubu forces.
A statement on Saturday issued by Secretary General of NSCF, Comrade Daniel Yakubu, said some individuals are restless as a result of the increasing political influence of Matawalle in the North and across Nigeria.
According to Yakubu, the protests are not a spontaneous grassroots movement but rather a calculated move by figures such as Governor Dauda Lawal, Senator Kabiru Marafa, and Sani Jaji, who are feeling threatened by the increasing political influence of Matawalle.
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He alleged that these individuals, described as part of the anti-Tinubu forces, are attempting to undermine President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s chances of re-election in 2027.
The NSCF emphasised that the protests are a desperate tactic employed by those afraid of losing their grip on power and in the face of Matawalle’s rising prominence, saying, the intense rivalry and power struggles within the political arena are indicative of the high stakes involved in the upcoming political landscape, where alliances shift and rivalries intensify.
Yakubu underscored the need for vigilance and discernment on the part of President Tinubu in navigating the complex and cut-throat nature of the emerging politics in the North, particularly in the light of Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal and his team’s efforts to suppress his chances by targeting his loyal support base in the North.
He said: “It is clear that there is a power struggle at play here, with a desperate faction vying for dominance in parts of Northern Nigeria by pursuing an agenda to undermine the chances of re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.”
He asserted that the protests are merely a part of the antics of the anti-Tinubu forces which highlights the complex and murky nature of Nigerian politics.
“Matawalle’s rising influence is undoubtedly a cause for concern for those who have traditionally held sway in the political arena which is vented through the restless actions of Lawal, Marafa, and Jaji can be seen as a desperate attempt to maintain their grip on power and influence.
“The fact that these anti-Tinubu forces are resorting to such tactics indicates the significance of Bello Matawalle’s political influence and the threat he poses to their own aspirations.
“It also underscores the high stakes involved in the coming 2027 politics, where alliances shift and rivalries intensify as politicians jockey for power and influence.
The NSCF spokesperson insisted that the protests are merely part of the “antics of the anti-Tinubu forces,” which highlights the complex and murky nature of Nigerian politics.
He stated that Matawalle’s rising influence is a ‘cause for concern’ for those who have traditionally held sway in the political arena, leading to the “restless actions” of Lawal, Marafa, and Jaji.
The NSCF called on President Tinubu to remain vigilant and discerning as the political scenario unfolds, highlighting the complex and cut-throat nature of Nigerian politics.
The group draws Tinubu’s attention to the importance of staying informed, strategic, and resilient in the face of this mounting political adversity.
