August 23, (THEWILL) – A political group, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Professionals Support Movement Group, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to urgently call his minister of State Defence, Mohammed Bello Matawalle, to order, for using his ministerial power to intimidate, destroy and weaken some of its party elders over frivolous accusations.
Addressing a group of journalists in Kaduna on Thursday, the group Chairman, Dr Muazzam Lawal Sadauki (Yariman Bukkur), described the action of the Minister against some of the PDP influential leaders in the region as uncalled for.
“Recently we heard about the alleged accusation of implicating some of our party leaders with spurious accusations of collaboration with a man called Bashir Hadejia who is now under detention by the security agencies. Yet, some of our party elders are now under scrutiny to implicate them with his dubious activities, something we view as illegal.
“Though we are aware that Hadejia was a supporter and close associate of Zamfara State Governor, HE Dauda Lawal, and other party leaders in our region, that does not warrant or give the Minister the right to intimidate or persecute them without due regard to the rule of law.
“Whoever knows Bashir Hadejia will undoubtedly testify that he is our bonafide member who has contributed immensely to the progress and development of our party, especially during the 2023 general elections.
The group said the party cannot abandon or ignore him for now just because of unsubstantiated allegations of financing terrorism and treason.
The group reasons that former Zamfara governor and now Minister of Defence Bello Matawalle is becoming desperate to destroy or persecute anybody perceived to be a threat to Mr President’s political ambition ahead of 2027.
It urged the Minister to explain the causes of his enmity against their party leaders, such as General Aliyu Gusau (), former governors Attahiru Bafarawa, Sule Lamido, and others, who according to the group have continually castigated or tried to bring down because of their oppositions to APC.
“So far, many of our political leaders including former governors, a retired army officer, and serving governors, have been marked to be relegated and implicated either because of their allegiances to PDP or are not in good names with the Presidency.
“Since after EndBadGovernanceInNigeria solidarity rallies some of our supporters are now targeted or becoming victims of harassment by certain people in the APC-led government, especially in the north-west.”
“We understand that the minister of state defence is becoming so restless and openly not forgiving anybody who plays opposition to the President Tinubu-led administration even though he has a senior minister in the person of Alhaji Mohammed Badaru.
“We want to remind Mr. President to understand that, government is about the people, not on the use of power to subdue or destroy oppositions because of political interest or alliance.
The group reiterated their earlier demand that Mr President should immediately call Matawalle and others in his shoes to order, by directing them to face their work so he can deliver his campaign promises to Nigerians.
Tunde Omolehin is an award-winning Journalist with prose in investigative and storytelling that is connecting the dots between the under-reported communities and policymakers to ensure good governance and accountability.
