The All Progressives Congress (APC) Elites Group in Zamfara state has alleged a sinister move by a two-time member House of Representative (name withheld) to drag the name of state minister of defense, Alhaji Bello Mutawalle, into the mud.
This was contained in a press statement issued and made available to newsmen in Sokoto by the group spokesman, Alhaji Hashimu Ado Danmalam, on Saturday.
The group also accused the member of sponsoring youth protest against Matawalle at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) headquarters in Abuja on Friday.
It however accused the lawmaker of conniving with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) government in the state to pitch the ignoramus protesters against the Minister.
The group therefore, called on the leadership of the APC under Abdullahi Umar Ganduje to launch an investigation into the issue with a view to call the lawmaker to order in the interest of the party come 2027.
It lamented and described the action of the APC lawmaker as “unnecessary, foolishness, sabotage, and political intolerance” aimed at creating enmity and disunity for the progress of the governing party in Zamfara and Nigeria in general.
“All these sponsored campaigns of calumny and mischief against Minister Matawalle are being sponsored by those who are not happy with his performances and defense against the perceived political enemies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the region.
“It is clear that the Honourable Minister of Defense State is targeted because of his commitment to the success of President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda, and publicly giving these perceived enemies of the President sleepless nights.
“Therefore, we understand that this member still has a grudge against the Presidency, especially by not supporting his candidature for the speakership which he is mistaken Matawalle who had advised him to withdraw for Mr. President endorsed candidate, yet he refuses.
“So now it seems like a paid time to go the extra mile to sponsor such campaigns against Bello Mohammed Matawalle.
“There is no justification for the honourable member that belongs to the same party as Hon. Minister going behind the curtain and descending very low with mischief and political propaganda against the good names of the Minister who is a brother and political leader in his state.
“He was accused of allegedly canvassing support and conniving with the senior officials of Zamfara state government under PDP to hire and sponsored some unsuspecting students from Nasarawa State University and those jobless youths roaming around Abuja for this nefarious campaign.
“The majority of protesting youths with placards against Matawalle, seeking his prosecution by the EFCC have never traveled to Zamfara or understand the political intrigues of the state and likewise motives of their sponsors.
“We, therefore, urge the National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Ganduje to order immediate investigations into this development while we support the EFCC investigations against any suspecting political office holders.
“However, we wish to caution the EFCC against going emotional by leveraging such jokers parading themselves and their co-travellers to love Nigeria more than others in their bids to score cheap political goal,” the group said.
