The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Zamfara State is calling on the All Progressives Congress (APC) to directly address allegations made by Governor Dauda Lawal against Bello Matawalle, the Minister of State for Defence.
In a statement on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, PDP Publicity Secretary Haliru Andi accused the APC of avoiding the important issues by criticizing Governor Lawal instead. “We challenge the APC to engage with the facts and tell the public that the allegations against Matawalle are untrue,” he said.
The PDP stressed that they will not back down in seeking justice for the people of Zamfara regarding claims of embezzlement under Matawalle’s administration. They believe the people deserve transparency and accountability.
The statement raised several serious questions:
– Did Matawalle leave only four million Naira for the new governor, despite receiving large funds from the Federal Government?
– Is it true that he left a three-month backlog of unpaid salaries for state workers?
– Did he fail to pay registration fees for students for four years, affecting their education?
– Did the previous administration not pay pensions for over ten years, resulting in many retirees suffering?
– Were there issues with electricity bills that led to disconnections of essential services?
– Did Matawalle sell government properties without following proper procedures?
The PDP also mentioned an ongoing investigation by the EFCC into a significant corruption case involving Matawalle.
“We dare the opposition to deny these claims,” the statement said. “If they can’t, we expect a public apology to the people of Zamfara.”
The PDP concluded by highlighting that Governor Dauda Lawal has worked hard to resolve these issues in just one year and urged the APC to acknowledge these efforts. They remain committed to advocating for the rights and welfare of Zamfara citizens.
