From Maiharaji Altine, Gusau
Six PDP Governors have visited Zamfara State in an effort to persuade Governor Bello Matawalle not to join the All Progressive Congress (APC).
The Governors who included Seyi Makinde of Oyo, Nyeson Wike of Rivers, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, Darius Ishaku of Taraba Ahmad Umar Fintiri of Adamawa and Aminu Waziri Tambuwel of Sokoto were in Government House Gusau yesterday where they spent several hours with Governor Matawalle who was alleged to have concluded arrangements to defect to the APC.
The visit of the PDP Governors to Zamfara State followed a similar visit by three APC Governors of kebbi, Atiku Bagudu, Jigawa Badaru Abubakar and Yobe, Mai Mala Buni who also had a closed door meeting with Governor Matawalle.
Speaking during the visit the Governor of Rivers state, Nyeson Wike expressed surprised on why should the APC members wanted Governor Matawalle to join their party after intimidating him on several occasions.
Wike said “I can’t understand a party which declared Zamfara “a no fly zone” is coming to woe the Governor.
Wike urged the people of the state to shine their eyes, stressing that “God who made Matawalle to be the Governor has not abandoned him”.
He advised Governor Matawalle not to lose sleep because of insecurity, adding that, the situation has been in existence even before Matawalle took over the affairs of the state.
“The insecurity problem started before you became the Governor, so, no body can come and use insecurity to intimidate you”.
Wike described the N50m donated by APC to the victims of the fire incident as a Greek gift, urging Governor Matawalle not to receive the opposition again.
Responding, Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle expressed happiness with the visit by the PDP Governors which he also described as timely following the Gusau market incident.
Matawalle said he was almost abandoned by the PDP Governors, lamenting that, “a crying child abandoned by his mother is likely to take food from a street beggar”.
Matawalle noted how closed he was with Governor Aminu Tambuwal with whom he has a long history dating back to their times at the House of Representatives.
