The Apex Igbo sociocultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has issued a strongly worded warning to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging him to remain vigilant amid what it describes as a renewed wave of coordinated political attacks reminiscent of the 2015 anti-Jonathan strategy. The organization declared unequivocally that the Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle, remains the President’s “unshakeable political fortress” targeted by opposition leaders ahead of the 2027 elections.
In a press release signed by Deputy President General, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, and National Spokesman, Chief Chinenyeze Ohia, Ohanaeze stated that President Tinubu must be “astute and alert” following the recent resignation of former Minister of Defence, Alhaji Badaru Abubakar. The group insisted that the resignation has triggered an escalation of political maneuvering by opposition figures who allegedly aim to weaken the President’s Northern alliances.
Ohanaeze accused leading opposition figures like Atiku Abubakar, Nasir El-Rufai, Chibuike Amaechi, and Omoyele Sowore, of deploying the same “manipulative and destabilizing tactics” used against former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015. According to the organization, the Chibok kidnappings and Northern insecurity were deliberately weaponized then, and similar strategies are being “resurrected” today to undermine Tinubu.
The group alleged that Kebbi State is being deliberately targeted to inflame security tensions, noting that it was Dr. Bello Matawalle’s “decisive and effective actions” that neutralized bandits and produced notable results. Ohanaeze claims that the success of military operations in the state triggered renewed resentment and frustration among opposition figures who are now “activating more of their strategic plans” to replicate the anti-Jonathan model.
According to Ohanaeze, the opposition has embarked on an elaborate “campaign of calumny” rooted in deceptive media propaganda, fabricated narratives, and orchestrated distortions aimed at eroding Tinubu’s core Northern political base. The organization said the goal is to dismantle the President’s strongest support structures by isolating and weakening key allies.
The group identified Dr. Bello Matawalle as the “primary target” of this plot.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo identifies Dr. Bello Matawalle as a bastion of support and strength for President Tinubu, a political fortress that cannot be easily breached,” the statement reads. “The opposition recognizes that as long as Matawalle stands resolutely beside the President, any attempt to destabilize this administration will confront significant resistance.”
The organization also dismissed as “baseless and malicious” the opposition-driven claims that the United States allegedly demanded the removal of both Badaru Abubakar and Matawalle as conditions for military cooperation. It described such allegations as fictitious blackmail designed to sow confusion within the Presidency.
Ohanaeze posed direct questions to those pushing such narratives, asking whether a sovereign nation like Nigeria could be dictated to by another sovereign state, and whether there is any evidence that Tinubu has been influenced by foreign powers since assuming office. The group insisted that the answer is “a resounding no.”
Reaffirming that Badaru’s resignation was solely due to personal medical reasons as stated by the former minister himself, Ohanaeze condemned the circulation of alternative stories as an intentional attempt to stir crisis within the administration. It warned the opposition to desist from dragging Matawalle into “unnecessary political theatre,” emphasizing his ongoing devotion to national security efforts.
The organization also commended the “robust collaboration” between National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and Dr. Matawalle, praising their role in safeguarding the lives and investments of Igbo people in all 19 Northern states. Ohanaeze urged President Tinubu to strengthen his support for the Ribadu–Matawalle alliance and the nation’s service chiefs to consolidate security gains and address ongoing threats.
Concluding its statement, Ohanaeze called on all Nigerians to rally behind President Tinubu in the fight against banditry and terrorism, stressing the need for unity and resilience during what it described as a critical moment for Nigeria’s stability.