By Ikechukwu Okaforadi
Zamfara State government has swiftly reacted to a claim by the national publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Debo Ologunagba that democracy and the 2023 general elections were under attack in Zamfara State.
In a press statement signed and issued to newsmen in Gusau, the state commissioner of Information, Ibrahim Magaji Dosara, denied the PDP Spokesman’s claim of an ongoing clampdown in the state.
“This is nothing but the usual bunch of lies and baseless accusations of the PDP to cover up its past mismanagement of the resources of this great nation”, the statement said.
“Maybe, the Publicity Secretary is ignorant or has deliberately refused to crosscheck what happened when the PDP flagrantly violated the commissioner of police’s order to PDP leaders in Zamfara State to suspend their campaign rally which they intended to do”
“There have been several warnings about the increase in banditry activities in some Local Government areas like Gummi, Bukkuyum, Anka and some parts of Gusau, Tsafe, Talata Mafara, Maradun and Maru in the state”
The statement noted that the PDP leaders were told to allow security operatives mop up the attacking bandits in the affected communities, for at least one or two weeks. “However, the PDP leaders refused to obey the CP’s order which was to guard against any possibility of infiltration of the rally by the rampaging bandits who may want to retaliate the onslaught of air strikes by security operatives”
“The rally ended up in chaos, as there was mass infiltration of thugs, hoodlums and bandits trooped into the capital city Gusau, which led to the destruction of individuals and public property with loss of life of one person and various degrees of injuries inflicted on over 20 innocent people”
“Furthermore, on the recent rally of the PDP, the National Publicity Secretary should crosscheck to understand what exactly happened”
“The PDP leaders were given permission to welcome home, their governorship candidate (sacked by a Court of competent jurisdiction and prohibited from parading himself as the governorship candidate of the PDP in the 2023 election), and they turned it to be a rally of misguided and hate speeches, destruction of public and APC properties, including its offices and assets”
“The APC followed the provisions of the Nigerian constitution by reporting the matter to the Police for action. Yet, the Publicity Secretary is complaining against the APC-led Zamfara government of Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle, who has been on his toes to ensure the protection of the lives and property of his people throughout the three and a-half years of his administration, being accused of clampdown of PDP Leaders in the state”
“It is, therefore, shocking that the PDP is accusing the commissioner of Police in Zamfara State of taking sides with the APC to intimidate and harass the PDP leaders in Zamfara State”
“The PDP Spokesman also said, “The All Progressives Congress (APC), being disoriented by increasing popularity of the PDP and our candidates ahead of the 2023 general elections has scaled up its vicious assault and clampdown on PDP candidates and other patriotic Nigerians in an attempt to silence PDP leaders and halt the overwhelming daily acceptance of our Party’s message of hope to Nigerians.”
