From Maiharaji Altine
The Zamfara state chapter of the All Progressives Congress) APC) has described the recent demonstration in Abuja by some people against Minister of State Defence Bello Mattawalle as politically motivated orchestrated by anti progressive persons who did not mean well for the country.
In a statement, the state’s APC Secretary, Alhaji Yusuf Idris said the protesters, who were made up of a rented crowd marched to the Headquarters of the EFCC in Abuja with their frivolous claims against the Minister of state and former governor of Zamfara, Bello Mattawalle, asking the anti graft agency to investigate him.
The protesters according to Idris, largely made up of a rented crowd and those who did not have an iota of what they were doing, marched to the Headquarters of the EFCC in Abuja with their frivolous claims against the Minister and former governor of Zamfara and asking the anti graft agency to investigate the Minister.
Idris stressed that, the issue raised by the rented protesters was an over flogged one.
“In fact, if the claims were true, the EFCC would have since made the details available to the public”. Said Idris.
Idris further explained that, the rented crowd who were ignorant of the national laws and judicial process in the operations of anti graft agencies against a suspect resorted in a protest of envy and vendetta against the rising popularity of the Minister, Bello Matawalle
He said, “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) response to sponsored protesters explains to them that the commission’s constitutional mandate is not driven by personal vendettas, political differences and tribal sentiments, but focused to uphold the rule of law and combating financial crimes without fear or favor”.
“Such protest has been coming from Matawalle’s political rivals organized by a few people from Matawalle’s home state, sometimes using non Zamfara indigenes (one time from the south east) who never knew the road to Zamfara”.
“The latest protest was staged in Abuja using people idling in the outskirts of Abuja and beggars to hold placards that they could not even read what the content said against the Minister”.
Idris maintained that, despite campaign of calumny, the Minister’s support has continued unabated both within and outside the state.
“We strongly believe that such failed protests will always meet brick walls and embarrassment to the sponsors who are presently trying to hide their faces over failure through sponsored protests with a view to distract Matawalle from carrying his national responsibility for the progress and development of our nation”.
”At the party level, we know these people and we know their antics and political strength (if they have any)”
“We want to assure them that their envy against Matawalle will lead them nowhere”.
“This is because the Minister who is the APC leader in Zamfara, has since moved on with his life and has always shown readiness to work with anyone for the progress of Zamfara and Nigeria”.
He declared that the party leadership at all levels were solidly behind the the minister and were ready to defend the policies and programmes of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at all levels.
“We are calling on the Honourable Minister to continue with his efforts to achieve peace and security throughout Nigeria for every citizen to go about his legitimate business without fear of being attacked or kidnapped”.
“He should not be distracted by the anti progressive elements who don’t mean well for Zamfara State and Nigeria”. Concluded Idris.
