PDP To Matawalle: Your Reason For Defecting Confirms APC Is Behind Insecurity

•Says governor a confused deserter

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Saturday observed that the
reason given by Zamfara State governor, Bello Matawalle, for
decamping to the All Progressives Congress (APC) reinforced the
stance that the APC and its government are responsible for the
banditry, terrorism and kidnapping ravaging that state.  

Matawalle had been quoted as saying that he joined the ruling
party to get the Federal Government to end insecurity in his
state, 

PDP’s position is contained in a statement issued by Kola
Ologbondiyan, its National Publicity Secretary, which noted that in
stating that now that he has finally joined the APC, he will “have
the full backing of the Federal Government to fight insecurity,”
Matawalle further exposed the fact that the APC was never committed
to fighting insecurity but apparently fueling it for political
gains.

The PDP posited that the statement by the governor further
confirmed that “the APC has been promoting insecurity particularly
terrorism and kidnapping for ransom, in various parts of the
country as a way to create an emergency situation to cover their
atrocities, siphon public funds as well as intimidate and coerce
state governors elected on the platform of other political parties
to join their fold.”

The main opposition party recalled how Governor Matawalle had
been under pressure by the APC-led Federal Government with the
imposition of no flight  as well as threats of state of
emergency in the state. 

The statement added: “Nigerians now know those behind the
violent abductions, kidnapping and other acts of terrorism in the
state and other parts of the country as well as why the situation
has continued to escalate under the APC.

“It is indeed atrocious and most unpardonable that the APC is
using the blood of innocent and helpless Nigerians for its
political gains as well as to create a gory merchandise for its
leaders and cronies.

“PDP holds that by this confession, it is therefore clear that
Governor Matawalle did not defect to the APC because the Party has
any democratic credential as erroneously claimed by the APC
national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, but only surrendered to
intimidation and cowardly joined those behind the killings and acts
of violence in Nigeria.

“Of course, the APC, as a party of political bandits, does not
have any democratic credential to attract well-meaning and
patriotic Nigerians.

“Governor Matawalle must however note that joining such
individuals, who have brought so much anguish and pain to his
people, is an unpardonable act of betrayal which will continue to
act as an albatross particularly against the backdrop of his own
vows.

“On the reclaiming of the governorship mandate, the PDP
described Matawalle’s boast as the feeble kick of a disoriented and
confused deserter, stressing that the 1999 Constitution (as
amended)  is clear on the responsibilities of a deputy
governor that finds himself under an absconding governor like
Matawalle.”

Governor Matawalle had been quoted as saying in an interview: “I
decided to change (political party) so that I can bring peace to my
state.

“Now that we all belong to the ruling party, I now have the full
backing of the federal government to fight insecurity.”

•Says governor a confused deserter

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Saturday observed that the
reason given by Zamfara State governor, Bello Matawalle, for
decamping to the All Progressives Congress (APC) reinforced the
stance that the APC and its government are responsible for the
banditry, terrorism and kidnapping ravaging that state.  

Matawalle had been quoted as saying that he joined the ruling
party to get the Federal Government to end insecurity in his
state, 

PDP’s position is contained in a statement issued by Kola
Ologbondiyan, its National Publicity Secretary, which noted that in
stating that now that he has finally joined the APC, he will “have
the full backing of the Federal Government to fight insecurity,”
Matawalle further exposed the fact that the APC was never committed
to fighting insecurity but apparently fueling it for political
gains.

The PDP posited that the statement by the governor further
confirmed that “the APC has been promoting insecurity particularly
terrorism and kidnapping for ransom, in various parts of the
country as a way to create an emergency situation to cover their
atrocities, siphon public funds as well as intimidate and coerce
state governors elected on the platform of other political parties
to join their fold.”

The main opposition party recalled how Governor Matawalle had
been under pressure by the APC-led Federal Government with the
imposition of no flight  as well as threats of state of
emergency in the state. 

The statement added: “Nigerians now know those behind the
violent abductions, kidnapping and other acts of terrorism in the
state and other parts of the country as well as why the situation
has continued to escalate under the APC.

“It is indeed atrocious and most unpardonable that the APC is
using the blood of innocent and helpless Nigerians for its
political gains as well as to create a gory merchandise for its
leaders and cronies.

“PDP holds that by this confession, it is therefore clear that
Governor Matawalle did not defect to the APC because the Party has
any democratic credential as erroneously claimed by the APC
national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, but only surrendered to
intimidation and cowardly joined those behind the killings and acts
of violence in Nigeria.

“Of course, the APC, as a party of political bandits, does not
have any democratic credential to attract well-meaning and
patriotic Nigerians.

“Governor Matawalle must however note that joining such
individuals, who have brought so much anguish and pain to his
people, is an unpardonable act of betrayal which will continue to
act as an albatross particularly against the backdrop of his own
vows.

“On the reclaiming of the governorship mandate, the PDP
described Matawalle’s boast as the feeble kick of a disoriented and
confused deserter, stressing that the 1999 Constitution (as
amended)  is clear on the responsibilities of a deputy
governor that finds himself under an absconding governor like
Matawalle.”

Governor Matawalle had been quoted as saying in an interview: “I
decided to change (political party) so that I can bring peace to my
state.

“Now that we all belong to the ruling party, I now have the full
backing of the federal government to fight insecurity.”