A citizens-led advocacy group, the Coalition for Truth and National Interest (CTNI), has urged Nigerians to ignore what it described as “selective outrage” over an old video of Bello Matawalle, Minister of State for Defence.
In a statement issued on Wednesday in Lagos, the group, led by its national president, Comrade Olatokunbo Olawoyin, defended the minister and warned against attempts to politicise a years-old clip for narrow partisan gains.
The civic group said the renewed attacks against Matawalle were “opportunistic and stripped of the broader security realities” faced by the country at the time the video was recorded.
The statement emphasised that public debate should focus on verifiable contributions rather than emotionally charged fragments taken out of context.
“Recycling old footage for political point-scoring undermines reasoned discourse and distracts from pressing national security issues. It does not reflect the minister’s longstanding commitment to stabilising Nigeria or his current role in the nation’s defence architecture,” Olawoyin said.
The coalition highlighted Matawalle’s recent efforts in national security, citing his instrumental role in the successful rescue of schoolgirls abducted in Kebbi State.
The operation, it said, required coordination, tact, and a deep understanding of Nigeria’s security environment, underscoring the minister’s capacity to act decisively in critical situations.
“Look at the recent rescue of abducted students of the Government Girls Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State; that successful operation was not by accident,” Olawoyin noted.
“It was the result of experience, careful planning, and a thorough understanding of the complexity of insecurity in the North-West. Those who focus solely on past footage are ignoring his current contributions to national stability,”
The coalition further urged Nigerians to differentiate between understanding the causes of insecurity and condoning criminality, cautioning that conflating the two could lead to unfair vilification of public officials actively engaged in security management.
“At a time when the country faces multiple security pressures, the government needs competent hands—people who understand both the operational demands and the human dimensions of conflict. Minister Matawalle is one such asset,” Comrade Olawoyin said.
The group also appealed to the media and the public to prioritise the national interest over sensationalism, warning against allowing social media narratives to distort perceptions of public servants’ performance.
“Nigeria is at a critical juncture. We cannot afford to be distracted by manufactured controversies. This is not the time to weaponise old videos or pursue narratives that undermine those committed to stabilising the nation. What the country needs is unity, sober analysis, and a commitment to facts—not outrage theatre,” the statement added.
The coalition concluded by urging citizens to focus on current evidence of service and leadership, reiterating that Matawalle remains a valuable member of President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet and a key contributor to ongoing efforts to strengthen the nation’s defence and internal security.