The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Zamfara State Chapter, has condemned the action of the State Minister of Defense Bello Matawalle for turning his Ministry of Defense office to venue of partisan campaign activity.
Haliru Andi the spokesman of the PDP in Zamfara Matawalle who was appointed Minister of State for Defence in August 2023 has the duty to prioritise national security and the protection of Nigerians above all else.
“It is alarming and indefensible that, at a time when Zamfara communities continue to suffer horrific attacks, abductions and killings, the office charged with defence responsibilities is being turned into what increasingly looks like a political office for receiving defectors and staging partisan events”.
Recent media reports show the Minister hosting political receptions and large gatherings at the Defence House. Such scenes are incompatible with the sober demands of his portfolio and amount to a national embarrassment” the statement added.
“Zamfara remains under severe threat from banditry and mass kidnappings including devastating attacks that have affected communities in Maradun and other local government areas — and the people expect the Defence Ministry to be singularly focused on tackling this menace”.
“We will not accept optics or actions that suggest the Minister is more interested in political manoeuvring than in confronting the daily security nightmare faced by our people. Recent reported abductions and murderous raids in Zamfara make the Minister’s conduct even more reprehensible”.
The statement among other things urged the President and Commander in Chief to call the Minister to order, direct the Minister and Ministry to ceased all partisan activities within Defence House and ensure the Ministry’s facilities and time are devoted exclusively to security strategy and operations.
The PDP also urged the party to Institute an independent review of how Defence House facilities are being used and publish clear guidelines that prohibit partisan use of military/defence offices noting that timely intervention of the Presidency will help restore the confidence of Nigerians in the activities of the Defense Ministry.
