Zamfara state branch of All Progressive Congress faction of Bello Matawalle has reacted to the recent press briefing by the state chairman of the People’s Democratic Party saying the accusation of issuing warrant and arresting some suspects is an exclusive preserve of the security agencies not the government.
According to the statement by the Spokesperson of APC Governor Matawalle faction Mal. Yusuf Idris Gusau said, “the attitude of people perceived as elders in the opposition PDP in Zamfara through lies and mischief against the APC and the state’s Chief Executive, Hon. Bello Mohammed Matawalle MON is certainly getting out of hand and deliberately targeted at heating the polity via their desperation to clinch to power by hook or crook”.
Idris said, it was unfortunate that, a retired military colonel can go to the public to make utterances which he has no fact to substantiate.
“This is an abuse of the level playing ground provided by the focused leadership of governor Matawalle and the established harmony, respect, and understanding enjoyed by APC leadership and our youths who have continued to be law-abiding”.
“There has been no time that the PDP mischievously raised any issue that we did not appropriately respond even when they do not have evidence over such claims including the issue of security, how government fund are used and most importantly, the trips undertaken by the governor searching for ways to address insecurity and bringing investment to boost the state’s economy and generate employment opportunities to our youths and women”.
Idris said,”the PDP however, never sees anything good in the government. For instance, and lately, when the governor while in company of his colleagues from Kebbi and Jigawa states went to Niger Republic to discuss security issues, the opposition PDP only saw Matawalle there minus the other governors and they have been using the entertainment aspect of the visit, which is local wrestling organized by the host country and government rather than the main issue even as the media aides to the governor issued releases on why the trip took place”.
“They try as always to draw public sympathy by leaving the main issues for trivialities. When the state government set up investigation on Professor Kabiru Jabaka over allegations of corruption he perpetrated while as Chairman of the state’s Zakkat and Endowment Board, to cover his tracks and guilt, he ran for cover in the PDP accusing the government of spending unverified monies while his issue has been confirmed”.
Mr. Idris said, it was unfortunate for Col. Bala Mande to call Governor Bello Matawalle as dictator even as he has nothing to show as contribution to end the insecurity facing the state.
“It is time the so-called elders stop the hide-and-seek self-destructive agenda setting and conduct themselves with maturity, or time will go against them”.
“For the PDP to be crying woefully for the evils they committed which is now witch-hunting them, they are making unnecessary accusations against APC and Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle”
“I believe if Governor Matawalle is muscling opposition in Zamfara state, he would not have allowed the PDP to open its office opposite the state Ministry of Finance freely”. Mr Idris added.
“The press conference addressed by the PDP Chairman where he gave outrageous figure of the casualties recorded in the recent attacks at Anka and Bukkuyum local government even as the two emirs gave the exact figures of 58 before the governor and the state security agencies was a direct security breach unless if he is trying to raise our suspicions”.
“But I will not be surprised of his claims because they were not happy with the number because what the PDP and its state leadership want to hear is the news of large-scale killings, kidnappings and rustling to start jubilation and sharing the news on different platforms in their animalistic thoughts”.
“So for the issue of Jabaka, I advised them to allow him go face his woes squarely according to laws of the land rather than shifting blames against others”.
Former Speaker of Zamfara House of Assembly Sanusi Garba Rikiji of the APC has scored a total of (229) votes to defeat the PDP who polls (61) votes only.
His poling unit is Rumfar Galadima (013) in Gusau the capital city of Zamfara State.
As for the result of the state house of assembly in his poling units, APC scored a total of (232) to defeat the PDP who polls (51) votes.
Rikiji is currently the house of reps candidate for Gusau and Tsafe in the 2023 election, whose election was declared inclusive by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He is contesting the seat together with the serving members Kabiru Amadu Mai Palace, who is from the opposition PDP.
The Chairman of Zamfara State Board of Internal Revenue Service, Ali Akilu Dama Bungudu has also delivered his poling unit.
His party the APC scored a total (173) to defeat the PDP who scored (111) votes.
Similar votes were also recorded for both political parties at the level of State assembly elections.
Similarly, Zamfara State Commissioner for Works Rabiu Garba Gusau has delivered his poling units with a wide margin to defeat the PDP.
APC scored (96) votes to defeat the opposition People’s Democratic Party, which scored (16) votes for both the Governorship election and state assembly for Gusau (1) at his poling unit.
A political ally of former Governor Yari Sha’ayau Yusuf S. Paws has defeated PDP in his Township Primary school poling unit in Talatar Marafa local government area of Zamfara State.
According to an official result sheet, the politician who is a member of All Progressives Congress (APC) scored (502) votes to defeat the PDP who scored (0) votes.
The politician has made history since 2015 by maintaining the only poling units which opposition party has never won a single vote during election.
He repeated the same history during the 2023 Presidential and national assembly elections conducted three weeks back, when PDP failed to score a single vote.