Alleged Matawalle’s palliatives to bandits: APC threatens to sue Zamfara PDP

The North West zone of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has challenged the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Zamfara State, demanding evidence to support allegations that the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, provided palliatives to bandits.
Failure to provide evidence, APC warned, will result in legal action against the accusers.

Speaking at a press conference in Kaduna on Sunday, the APC North West Zonal Publicity Secretary, Musa Mada, stated the importance of constructive criticism in politics but cautioned against slanderous attacks that undermine freedom of speech.

Mada accused the PDP-led government in Zamfara of persistently engaging in character assassination against Matawalle, the immediate past governor of the state.

APC asserted that the serious allegations against Matawalle cannot be ignored, asserting that those behind the “fake news” must either substantiate their claims or issue a public apology to the minister.
“It has come to our notice that some unscrupulous elements in this geopolitical zone, particularly Zamfara State, made it their daily habit of using instruments of mainstream and the new media to tarnish the image of our party leaders.
“Without mincing words, we as a party strongly suspect this slanderous propaganda to have been sponsored by individuals very much related to the PDP government in Zamfara State.
“In fact, we have particular suspects as we mentioned one among the rest and we are confident that we will get hold of all the necessary evidence that we will use against them in the court of law as an investigation into the matter is already ongoing.
“If no action is taken from the side of the sponsors of this fake news on expiration of the ultimatum, on 14th April 2024, legal action will be instituted against them,” part of the statement reads.

APC condemned the habit of tarnishing the image of its leaders through unfounded allegations, emphasising that such actions undermine the integrity of the party and its members.

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The statement further reads: “As a party, we concede that slandering any of our members with ulterior motives is as good as attacking the structural foundation of our great party, which is intolerable, let alone defaming the character and questioning the integrity of our leaders who earned their reputation through selfless service to the greater good of the entire nation.

“While we welcome positive criticism from the opposition that does not violate the provisions of freedom of speech, we will not condone any form of vituperation that overstepped boundaries of provisions of the laws of the land.

“This grave allegation can never be overlooked, therefore, sponsors must either provide proof of the alleged foodstuff distribution or tender apology to the Honourable Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Muhammad Matawalle in the pages of at least two national dailies within two weeks from now.”