The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Professionals Support Movement has called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene and prevent his Minister of State for Defense, Mohammed Bello Matawalle, from allegedly harassing opposition leaders in Northern Nigeria......Read The Full Article>>.....Read The Full Article>>
This appeal was made by the chairman of the group, Dr. Muazzam Lawal Sadauki, during a discussion with journalists on Thursday.
Dr. Sadauki expressed concern that recent actions taken by the minister were seen as unnecessary political persecution targeting political figures in Northern Nigeria, particularly in the Northwestern region.
He cited the case of Bashir Hadejia, a PDP supporter who is currently detained by security agencies under allegations of involvement in dubious activities, including financing terrorism and treason.
Dr. Sadauki emphasized that attempts were being made to implicate other PDP leaders in the region in Hadejia’s alleged activities, which the PDP sees as baseless and illegal.
“Recently, we have been hearing accusations implicating some of our party leaders, trying to link them with the activities of Bashir Hadejia, who is currently detained by the security agencies,”Dr. Sadauki said.
“However, this is nothing more than an unhealthy attempt to undermine political figures who hold different views, particularly in the Northwest. These accusations are spurious and have no basis, yet our leaders are being scrutinized.”
He continued to argue that although Hadejia had been a close associate of Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, and other prominent PDP leaders in the region, this did not give the minister the right to intimidate or persecute them.
“We believe that former Zamfara governor and now Minister of State for Defense, Bello Matawalle, is becoming desperate to destroy or persecute anyone he perceives as a threat to President Tinubu’s political ambitions ahead of the 2027 elections,”Sadauki claimed.
According to the PDP Professionals Support Movement, Matawalle has specifically targeted PDP leaders, including retired General Aliyu Gusau, and former governors such as Attahiru Bafarawa and Sule Lamido, whom the minister has reportedly castigated because of their opposition to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Dr. Sadauki further alleged that Matawalle, along with others, is deliberately targeting a number of prominent political figures in the region, including former governors and a retired military officer, because of their continued allegiance to the PDP or strained relations with the presidency.
He noted that following the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria solidarity rallies, PDP supporters, particularly in the Northwest, have been subjected to increased harassment by elements within the APC-led government.
The PDP Professionals Support Movement warned that the minister’s actions are detrimental to the democratic process, urging President Tinubu to address the situation.
“The minister of state defense is becoming restless and unforgiving towards anyone who opposes the President Tinubu-led administration, despite the fact that there is a senior minister in the ministry, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru,”Sadauki pointed out.
He urged the president to remind his ministers that governance is meant to serve the people, not to suppress opposition for political gain.
“We reiterate our call for Mr. President to immediately rein in Matawalle and others in his circle and instruct them to focus on their responsibilities. This will allow the president to deliver on his campaign promises to Nigerians,”Dr. Sadauki concluded.
