From Sola Ojo, Abuja
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Professionals Support Movement on Thursday asked President Bola Tinubu to stop his Minister of State Defense, Mohammed Bello Matawalle from alleged harassment of opposition leaders in Northern Nigeria.
Chairman of the group, Dr Muazzam Lawal Sadauki in a chat with newsmen on Thursday said the development was unnecessary unhealthy political persecution of political figures with diverse views in the North, particularly the Northwest.
He said, “Recently we heard about the alleged accusation of implicating some of our party leaders with spurious accusations of collaboration with a man called Bashir Hadejia who is in detention by the security agencies; yet, some of our party elders are now under scrutiny to implicate them with his dubious activities, something we view as illegal.
“Though we are aware that Hadejia was a supporter and close associate of Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, and other party leaders in our region, that does not warrant or give the Minister the right to intimidate or persecute them without due regard to the rule of law.
“Those who know Bashir Hadejia will undoubtedly testify that he is our bonafide member who has contributed immensely to the progress and development of our party, especially during the 2023 general elections.
“Therefore, the PDP cannot abandon or ignore him for now just because of unsubstantiated allegations of financing terrorism and treason.
“We believe that former Zamfara governor and now Minister of Defense Bello Matawalle is becoming desperate to destroy or persecute anybody perceived to be a threat to Mr President’s political ambition ahead of 2027.
“The Minister should explain to us in the PDP, especially North-West, the causes of his enmity against our leaders, especially Gen Aliyu Gusau (rtd), former governors Attahiru Bafarawa, Sule Lamido, and others, who he continually castigated or tried to bring down because of their oppositions to APC.
“So far, many of our political leaders including former governors, a retired army officer, and serving governors, have been marked to be relegated and implicated either because of their allegiances to PDP or are not in good names with the Presidency.
“Since after the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria solidarity rallies some of our supporters are now targeted or becoming victims of harassment by certain people in the APC-led government, more especially in the northwest.
“We understand that the minister of state defence is becoming so restless and openly not forgiving anybody who plays opposition to President Tinubu-led administration even though he has a senior minister in the person of Alhaji Mohammed Badaru.
“We want to remind Mr. President to understand that, government is about the people not on use of power to subdue or destroy oppositions because of political interest or alliance.
“It is on this note that we are reiterating our earlier demand that Mr President should immediately call Matawalle and others in his shoes to order, by directing them to face their work so he can deliver his campaign promises to Nigerians”, he said.