Dr. Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, former Zamfara governorship candidate and Patron of the Tinubu/Shettima 2023 Presidential Campaign Council, has written an open letter to President Bola Tinubu, urging the scrapping of the Ministry of State for Defence. Shinkafi argued that the move would allow the Ministry of Defence, led by General Christopher Musa, to coordinate the fight against terrorism more effectively. He also called for the removal of Bello Matawalle from his current position.
Shinkafi criticized Matawalle’s leadership and qualifications, citing his lack of public acceptance and alleged links with banditry as reasons for inefficiency. He emphasized that national security requires a unified command structure, noting that current divisions hamper operations and oversight of critical areas, including maritime security, veterans’ welfare, and defence industries. “It is therefore essential to unify the Ministry of Defence under one command,” Shinkafi stated, appealing to the President to act in the nation’s interest.