The Leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) North-West zone, has condemned the conduct of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Government in Zamfara State on matters relating to the immediate past Governor of the State and current Minister of State, Defence, Mr Bello Matawalle.
Mr Garba Datti, APC National Vice Chairman, North West disclosed this on Saturday while addressing journalists at the Party’s Zonal Office in Kaduna.
Datti said that APC North West was aware that, since 29th May 2023 when Matawalle left office as the Governor, the new administration of Dauda Lawal made it its primary role to drag Matawalle’s name in the mud at all costs, instead of facing the ugly security challenges that held the state to a standstill.
“The APC North West viewed the protest staged by some hoodlums parading as civil society groups sponsored by the state at the National Assembly to demand for the removal of Matawalle from the Federal Executive Council is not only mendacious, but a futile exercise.
“APC therefore, condemned in totality such show of shame by the so called civil society groups.
“President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a core politician, understands very well that whenever an opposition party asked you to disown one of your own, certainly that person pose a threat to everything they stand for,” Datti added.
He said that APC believed that the president knew Matawalle’s political value and pedigree which earned him the North-West Campaign Coordinator for 2023 Presidential Elections.
“His immense contribution resulted in the region posting the highest number of votes that gave our party the edge we needed to clinch the presidency with relative ease,” he added.
Datti further disclosed that Matawalle was the Chairman, House Committee on Security, Public Safety and Intelligence between 2011- 2015, adding, “the pesident, therefore, knows his worth and capacity, that is why he nominated him for ministerial position.
“APC North-West insists that Matawalle’s integrity and patriotism in the eyes of whoever knows him closely stood out for him even when Dauda’s government sponsored hoodlums with placards protested at EFCC headquarters that Matawalle must be investigated to prevent him from making the ministerial list.
“We follow closely and understand that the greatest achievement of current administration in Zamfara since its inception, is painting Matawalle black at all times.
“Most press releases from the state government house Gusau were strategically drafted to cast aspersions on the person of Bello Matawalle.
“All allegations made on Matawalle by the PDP Government in Zamfara that he has tie with bandits is just to score cheap political points.
“They should know that like any other ministerial nominee, Matawalle went through rigorous security secrutiny before being screened and confirmed by the Senate to be appointed as a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Datti concluded.
