Matawalle: The inertia of the saddest minds, by Lawal Umar Maradun, Ph.D.

In a world where silence often shelters mediocrity, those who stand out will always draw fire. The recent series of attacks on the personality of the Honourable Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Mohammed Matawallen Maradun are not a sign of his failure but of his growing relevance in the State and the national politics. It is often said “Still waters run deep”; and silence is most a times better when it is unwise to respond to stupidity and barrage of mediocrity of the idiot.

Similarly, it is also often said “Empty vessels make the most sound”, meaning that those who lack knowledge or experience make a lot of unnecessary noise in an attempt to denigrate others, but at the end of the day they only expose their lack of experience in the eyes of the right-thinking individuals in society. Therefore, the louder they shout, the clearer their true colour appears as mere haters.

There is a saying that is timeless and true “If you don’t have any enemies in life, you have never stood up for anything.” Those who are persistently calling for the sacking of the State Minister of State for Defence are mere critics and their criticism does not expose Matawalle’s weakness, it only exposes their fear of his influence. So, it is clear to all that their blind scrutiny is not rooted in any fact, thus it is the inertia of the saddest minds, who has woefully failed to match substance with substance, therefore the only thing they could do is to strike at shadows instead.

Somebody like Hon Bello Bakyasuwa is only exposing his lack of experience and ingratitude. How dare Bakyasuwa forgets to call on the first security officer of the state to join hands with the Honourable Minister of State for Defence (who was the immediate past Governor), in order to help masses out of the shackles of banditry. In other words, is Bakyasuwa saying that there is no elected Governor in the State, and that the Honourable Minister of State for Defence is now the first Security officer of the state overseeing the security of people’s lives and property in the state? Or is he suggesting that the person elected as Governor has failed? We need to get these answers before we continue.

Bakyasuwa should remember the time when Matawalle graciously elevated his status and appointed him to head an agency called Anti-Thugry in the State. Then, media were flooded with his interviews expressing total loyalty to Matawalle; was that actually Bakyasuwa or someone else? Can he also remember that character, unlike clamor, does not crumble under pressure and that Matawalle, despite all the unnecessary noise, stands resolute. Matawalle remains unmoved by hatred of the critics because truth does not chase applause, nor does it bow to bewildering noise.

It is worthy of noting that the most ungrateful human being on earth is diabolical who shamelessly and disgracefully forgets favours and kindness of his master due to selfishness and glaring hatred. This kind of individual does not see anything good in life and will never be successful in any human endeavour.

Let the haters continue the detraction and discrediting but each attack they make, would only fuel the legacy of Matawalle, a person that is bold enough to lead, the Jagaban son, the leader of APC in the State and the Honourable Minister of State for Defence.