The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the weekend confronted Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State, detesting the impeachment proceedings against Deputy Governor Mahdi Aliyu Mohammed Gusau of Zamfara State who declined to defect with the governor from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The PDP admonished Governor Matawalle to desist from stoking and inducing violence in Zamfara State through orchestrating and manipulating the State House of Assembly to commence an illegal and undemocratic impeachment process against the democratically elected Deputy Governor Mahdi Aliyu Mohammed Gusau. The PDP also warned the lawmakers against undermining a subsisting court order restraining the Zamfara State legislators from impeaching the deputy governor.
PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, in a statement indicated that the panic move by Governor Matawalle is clearly induced by his realization that the mandate of the PDP, which he stole away into the APC, is on the verge of being recovered through the legal processes of the court, which could proclaim the deputy governor as the leader of the state.
The PDP warned: “this illegal process of impeachment despite a subsisting order of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/ 650/2021 portends grave implication for peace and security not only in Zamfara State but the entire Northwest region as well as the continued sustenance of democracy in our country.”
The PDP National Publicity Secretary argued Matawalle violated the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) in recklessly moving to the APC when there is no division in the PDP. He admonished the governor that Zamfara State residents are solidly with the deputy governor, who enjoys a large political followership in the state as the custodian of the PDP mandate after Matawalle’s infamous defection to the APC. Ologunagba maintained that any move to impeach the deputy governor is a direct assault on the will of the people of Zamfara State which they will firmly resist.
The PDP declared: “Any attempt, therefore, to strip the deputy governor of the mandate of the people on the grounds of baseless and unfounded allegations is a recipe for a serious crisis that can result in the complete breakdown of law and order in the State.
“The State House of Assembly is, therefore, cautioned not to allow itself to be pitched against the people and destroy the State because of the bloated ego of Governor Matawalle whose political career is at its twilight.
“Governor Matawalle must know that the people of Zamfara State cannot allow his personal frustration and ego to be exchanged for their mandate which is now embodied in the Deputy Governor.”
Ologunagba enjoined the Inspector General of Police to “note how Governor Matawalle, out of frustration, has constituted himself into a security threat in Zamfara State and the entire Northwest region, where he is now threatening the lives of members of the PDP and other well-meaning citizens of Zamfara State.”
PDP also raised alarm, putting Nigerians on notice, alleging that Governor Matawalle has been hounding members of the Zamfara State PDP Working Committee particularly, the State Deputy Chairman, Prof. Kabiru Jabaka, who have been compelled to vacate the State following threats to his life, and that of others.
The PDP alleged that “Governor Matawalle has well-known connections and negotiations with bandits and terrorists;” therefore, urged Nigerians to “hold the governor responsible should any harm befall PDP members in the State”.
Ologunagba enjoined President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC to immediately call Governor Matawalle to order and ensure that an assault on democracy, especially, the principle of separation of powers and peaceful co-existence in Zamfara State, is halted forthwith.
The PDP National Publicity Secretary insisted that Governor Matawalle must be held responsible for any breakdown of law and order, which can result in bloodshed in Zamfara State, for which he can also be personally held liable even beyond the shores of Nigeria.
The state Assembly had last week received the impeachment report of the committee assigned to look into the allegations of gross misconduct against the deputy governor. The action has been generating tension in Zamfara State.