By Shaidu Somma
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Professionals Support Movement Group has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently call his Minister of State Defense, 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.
The group condemned Matawalle’s use of power to persecute opposition leaders, particularly in the Northwest, and demanded that President Tinubu call him to order to focus on governance rather than political vendetta.
Recently, the group heard about the alleged accusation of implicating some of its party leaders with spurious accusations of collaboration with a man called Bashir Hadejia, who is now under detention by the security agencies. This, the group views as illegal and an attempt to intimidate and persecute its leaders.
The group believes that former Zamfara governor and now Minister of Defense Bello Matawalle is becoming desperate to destroy or persecute anybody perceived to be a threat to Mr. President’s political ambition ahead of 2027.
The Minister should explain to the PDP, especially in the North-West, the causes of his enmity against its leaders, especially Gen Aliyu Gusau (rtd), former governors Attahiru Bafarawa, Sule Lamido, and others, who he continually castigated or tried to bring down because of their opposition to APC.
Many of the party’s 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 the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria solidarity rallies, some of the party’s supporters are now targeted or becoming victims of harassment by certain people in the APC-led government, more especially in the northwest.
The group wants to remind Mr. President to understand that government is about the people, not using power to subdue or destroy opposition because of political interest or alliance.
It is on this note that the group is reiterating its 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.
The group also wants to remind President Tinubu that he should focus on governance and delivering his campaign promises to Nigerians rather than engaging in political persecution and vendetta.
The PDP Professionals Support Movement Group is calling on all well-meaning Nigerians to rise up and condemn this act of political persecution and intimidation.
The group is also calling on the international community to take note of this development and prevail on President Tinubu to stop this act of political vendetta.
In conclusion, the group is reiterating its commitment to democracy and the rule of law and will continue to speak out against any act of political persecution and intimidation.
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