Zamfara state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has alleged that the attack on the venue of its congress on Monday, was sponsored by state actors.
The state party secretary, Abba Bello made the allegation in a statement on Thursday.
According to him, “The untimely intervention by the relevant Security agencies to forestall the gruesome act that lasted almost three hours, coupled with the security agencies’ inability to arrest and bring the suspects to book, has compelled us to conclude that the arsonists and their sponsors are State actors.
“The people of Zamfara state are aware of the heavy presence of the operatives of various security agencies in Gusau town, monitoring the prevailing security situation, yet none of the perpetrators has been arrested.
“Better still, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has recently concluded similar congresses at the wards, local government and state levels, without recording any security breach.
“With a heavy heart, I wish to address the gentlemen of the press on a sad incident of lawlessness that was recorded on Monday 27th December, 2021, where a group of unknown youths suspected to be sponsored political thugs, numbering about 300, stormed the venue of PDP Congress and Vandalized properties worth millions of naira.
“This dastardly act is condemnable by all standards and unacceptable in a civilized society like ours, where the freedom of speech and association are sacrosanct and guaranteed by our noble constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The unfolding political bitterness in Zamfara state, if left unchecked by the relevant authorities, particularly security agencies, could snowball into a bigger security threat that will worsen our fragile peace, and be costly in terms of human lives and properties.
“We, in the PDP, are law-abiding citizens as we have duly notified the relevant security agencies of our planned state congress. Thereafter, we provided chairs and canopies and also decorated the venue, making it ready for the august function.
“However, a few hours to the commencement of the event, a group of suspected political thugs, in their numbers, arrived at the venue wielding dangerous weapons and set the place ablaze. This was in addition to vandalizing some vehicles parked at the premises of the venue. Thank God that no life was lost.
“The lack of timely intervention by the relevant security agencies to forestall this gruesome act that lasted for almost three hours, coupled with the Security agencies’ inability to arrest and bring the suspects to book, has compelled us to conclude that the arsonists and their sponsors are State actors.
“The people if Zamfara state are aware of the heavy presence of the operatives of various security agencies in Gusau town, monitoring the prevailing security situation, yet none of the perpetrators was arrested.
“Better still, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has recently concluded similar congresses at the wards, local government and state levels, without recording any security breach.
“It is unfortunate that the suspected State actors could condescend so low as to sponsor thuggery, arson and vandalism as a means of clinching cheap political popularity against the PDP.
“Let me emphatically assure the sponsors of the Monday arson that the PDP supporters, as well as the good people of Zamfara state, will continue to remain focused and committed to winning election at all levels come 2023 by the special grace of Almighty Allah (SWT) for our collective good.
“No amount of distraction will deter us from bringing about a positive change in Zamfara and the country at large in this direction.
“I wish to also remind the personnel of the security agencies deployed to Zamfara state of their mandates of protecting the lives and properties of the State’s citizens, irrespective of the citizens’ ethno-religious and political background.
“The security agents are highly anticipated to remain neutral and unbiased in the discharge of their constitutional responsibilities.
“We are glad to note that, the moment, the print and electronic media, as well as the social media, are agog with the Monday incident. More so, we have resolved to employ all available constitutional means to seek redress for the damages inflicted on us,” the statement reads.
