The Coalition for Truth and National Interest (CTNI), a citizens-led advocacy group, has called on Nigerians to disregard what it described as “selective outrage” over the circulation of an old video of the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle.

In a statement issued on Wednesday in Lagos, the group’s national president, Comrade Olatokunbo Olawoyin, condemned renewed attacks on Matawalle, warning that attempts to politicise a year-old clip for partisan advantage undermined national discourse.

CTNI said the criticisms were “opportunistic and stripped of the broader security realities” that existed when the video was first recorded.

It argued that debates about public officials should be grounded in verifiable contributions, not on “emotionally charged fragments taken out of context.”

“Recycling old footage for political point-scoring undermines reasoned discourse and distracts from pressing national security issues,” Olawoyin said. “It does not reflect the minister’s longstanding commitment to stabilising Nigeria or his current role in the nation’s defence architecture.”

The group stressed that Matawalle’s recent record should be the focus of public appraisal, citing his involvement in the successful rescue of schoolgirls abducted in Maga, Kebbi State. It said the rescue operation demonstrated the minister’s strategic understanding of Nigeria’s security terrain.

“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 said. “It was the result of experience, careful planning, and a thorough understanding of the complexity of insecurity in the North-West.”

CTNI also urged Nigerians to distinguish between analysing the roots of insecurity and condoning criminality, warning that failing to do so risks unfairly vilifying public officials working to address security challenges.

“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,” the statement added.

The coalition further appealed to the media and the public to avoid sensational narratives and prioritise national interest. It warned that allowing social media outrage to shape perceptions could erode support for those contributing to national stability.

The group reaffirmed that Matawalle remains a key figure in President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet and an important contributor to ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s defence and internal security.

Vanguard News