₦airaland Forum

By James Hope

Lagos shimmered under the Eid sun. The city that never sleeps had paused, if only for a moment, to honor the sacred rhythm of Salah. But for one man, the celebration was incomplete without a visit to the one he calls both leader and mentor.

Dressed head to toe in the iconic attire of the Jagaban—flowing white agbada embroidered with gold, a matching cap resting firmly on his head—Bello Mohammed Matawalle stepped into the reception room with quiet reverence. It was more than clothing. It was a statement. A nod to the legacy, the leadership, and the loyalty he carries in his heart.

“I have never seen a committed fellow like Matawalle,” an aide whispered as the cameras flashed. And in that moment, the photograph captured more than a handshake. It captured years of trust, service, and unwavering belief in a shared vision for Nigeria.

Standing beside His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, Matawalle’s posture was one of respect, his smile one of genuine joy. To his right stood the First Lady, a gracious witness to the bond between two political sons of the North and the West, united by purpose.

For Matawalle, this was not protocol. It was personal.
In a political season where loyalty is often tested by ambition, he chose to show up. Not for cameras, not for headlines, but because loyalty, to him, is not seasonal. It is a creed.

“Leadership is about standing with your leader when the road is smooth and when it is rough,” he said later, away from the lens. “President Tinubu gave me a chance to serve at the national level. The least I can do is stand by him, speak for him, and work for the Nigeria he envisions.”

The visit was brief, but the message was loud: commitment is not measured in words, but in presence. In showing up. In honoring the office, the man, and the mandate.

As Matawalle stepped back into the Lagos afternoon, still adorned in the colors of the Jagaban, one thing was clear—loyalty, when genuine, never goes unnoticed. And in Nigeria’s journey forward, such loyalty is not just rare. It is needed.

Mr. James Hope is Commentator on National issues/Lead Supporter of Matawalle/Tinubu

Tinubu's cult of personality.

Presido do something, Nigeria is sinking.

He only came to thank Tinubu for not dropping bombs on their brothers in the bush

To the Fulani elites and terrorism sponsors, Tinubu is doing a good job.

In a sane society, the likes of Matawalle should be in jail for sponsoring terrorism and banditry

I wonder how many rams Tinubu will slaughter in his home this Salah.

PR for a mere sycophantic visit? Nairaland should always specify when sponsored articles are pushed to frontpage.

Loyalty of self interest and the pocket.

We know all these things, but them don use tribalism turn Nigerians brains to abacha.

Are you sure is the definition of Loyalty

We have seen more of this in Nigeria politics at the end is betrayer.

Team Gbadun Gbadun all time. Eid Mubarak

southsouthking:
Presido do something, Nigeria is sinking.

He cannot do "nada" rather he can do "radarada!"

While children are in captivity. All those who destabilised GEJs government with the Bring our girls movement are sudden deaf and dumb.

Nothing to see here. The failure yet breathes

See the man logo like boko

The prince of terrorists, paying sallah homage to thier patron in Lagos. Nigerians especially in the north west and east should brace for impact.

Abeg take am
Easy dey surk him plick

AMINDA:
PR for a mere sycophantic visit? Nairaland should always specify when sponsored articles are pushed to frontpage.

A real pain. IT PAINS YOUU.😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

Dear Minister of State for Defence, at a time when school children celebrated the sallah period in captivity, you should have toned down your celebrations because this deplorable state of security in the country is directly under your watch. We want to see drastic changes in the security apparatus of the country. You have a unique opportunity to make yourself a hero by designing or backing transforming security policies that can put the people in charge of their safety rather than leaving them helpless in the face of relentless attacks by these non state actors. As a supporter of Jagaban, I don't think this is a time to print a large emblem of his logo on a babariga. There are other more impactful ways you can win for him without being loud about it yet the people will recognise your work for it.

Money good o who ever say money no good doesn't know what he or she is saying.

A straightforward, undeniably enthusiastic observation of a politician’s a little love affair with baba in Lagos. Perfectly concise and utterly agreeable.

Pickup8:
A real pain. IT PAINS YOUU.😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

Yes it did, but the insecurity in the country pains me more. Tinubu is the Commander-in-Chief while Matawalle is the Minister of state for Defence, by the way. The best way to show "loyalty" is to be loyal to the Nigerian people and actually do his job. Not covering his incompetence by massaging the ego of a megalomaniac with low self-esteem who always craves validation.

Off course, his ministry is supposed to fund 2027 APC election. If you know, you know, "2026 defence budget is a goal" Nigerians must get sense after Tinubu and APC finish dealing with them.
Tinubu is the king of dirty politics.

As a president of a whole nation,.. why run to Lagos

AMINDA:
Yes it did, but the insecurity in the country pains me more. Tinubu is the Commander-in-Chief while Matawalle is the Minister of state for Defence, by the way.

The best way to show "loyalty" is to be loyal to the Nigerian people and actually do his job. Not covering his incompetence by massaging the ego of a megalomaniac with low self-esteem who always craves validation.

Unfortunately, we don't appreciate loyalty to Nigerians and our constitution by our politicians.

Atiku's loyalty to the constitution and Nigerians during Obasanjo's failed 3rd term agenda, is part of why his political ambition has stalled.




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPytmuhYDAU

Lovit:
He only came to thank Tinubu for not dropping bombs on their brothers in the bush

To the Fulani elites and terrorism sponsors, Tinubu is doing a good job.

In a sane society, the likes of Matawalle should be in jail for sponsoring terrorism and banditry

Jagaban of Borgu has always been in sync with his fellow northerners who sponsor terrorism, while sending Kanu to rot in jail and betraying Yorubas serially.
No be today.

anonimi:
How we foiled Jonathan’s effort to make Mulika Adeola Speaker, Akande reveals

AS president in 2011, Goodluck Jonathan did all he could to ensure South West grabbed the country’s number four seat, including lobbying then opposition leaders from the zone, to no avail. The North West eventually grabbed the seat, supported by South West leaders in opposition to then ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Former Governor of Osun State and now statesman, Chief Bisi Akande, made this revelation in his autobiography, “My Participations” which is currently dominating political and national dis- course.

Aminu Tambuwal, now Sokoto State governor, won the seat, against the preferred pick of his party, Mrs Mulikat Adeola Akande, from the South-West. Defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, then a fledging opposition, which had Akande and his soulmate, former Lagos State governor, Senator Bola Tinubu, as front- line leaders, openly asked its elected members of the House of Representatives, mostly from the South-West, to work against their region and back Tambuwal from North-West.

The opposition party’s support carried Tambuwal through the contest against Akande, then ruling party’s favourite for the speakership seat.

In his book, Chief Akande revealed that former president then as incumbent, personally reached out to Tinubu, who is now believed to be nursing presidential aspiration in 2023 and himself, but couldn’t convince them.

He wrote, “President Jonathan, immediately after the meeting (with political parties), called Bola Tinubu aside into a lobby to broach the matter of ACN support for a choice of who would become the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

“That same day, President Jonathan talked to me on phone about the same matter. He disclosed that PDP had zoned the position to the South-West but that only one Muraina and another Mulika won elections on PDP ticket from the zone into the House of Representatives.

https://tribuneonlineng.com/how-we-foiled-jonathans-effort-to-make-mulika-adeola-speaker-akande-reveals/

southsouthking:
Presido do something, Nigeria is sinking.

Do something like what? What do you have in mind please? I’m just curious 🤨