The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara State has raised an alarm that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state is making frantic efforts to disrupt the welcome ceremony for the Minister of State for Defence, Hon. Bello Mohammed Matawalle, to Zamfara State.
This was disclosed in a press briefing by the State Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mallam Yusuf Idris Gusau, who stated that his party has finalised all necessary arrangements to welcome the minister today, Thursday.
According to him, party leaders, supporters, and youths have prepared to receive the former government of the State at Yankara, a border community between Katsina and Zamfara States, and escort him to his Maradun country home.
He recalled that this information was released through a press statement from the State headquarters of the party, which he said he issued to newsmen in Gusau, the State capital.
“Recall that in the same release, while seeking the cooperation and coverage of security agencies in the state, we cautioned all our members against ‘carrying any type of weapon’ throughout the minister’s visit and beyond, this is to ensure adherence to law and order and a smooth, successful outing”, he added.
“But unfortunately, we have received credible information that the ruling PDP in the state has hatched a destructive plan that will do no good to anyone.
“The PDP and its government agents met in the Government House, Gusau, to draw up this dastardly plan of using its thugs disguised as our supporters, but with the sole aim under the directives of their paymasters to disrupt the APC gatherings wherever they may hold, right from the beginning of the visit to the end.
“Don’t forget, they already have our schedules, which we made public.
“Having busted their evil plans therefore, they may have plans ‘b’ and ‘c,’ which is why as law abiding citizens who have no government in power, we are still appealing and urging security agencies in the State to be cautious and watchful in and at every step of our activities especially as concerns the Minister’s visit to the State starting this Thursday.
“We also have information that they will station some gun-wielding thugs (we have reported several cases of their trigger-happy thugs), who will shoot at random at our motorcade around Tsafe and on our way to Maradun.
“Whatever the case may be, the security agencies should take note of this ever-deviant, defiant development and act appropriately.
“On our part, we have charged our law-abiding youths and other supporters to be on the lookout for any suspicious movement, get hold of anyone they know is not a member, and immediately hand him over to security personnel attached to cover the activities.
“It might also interest you, gentlemen of the press, to know that the PDP has been making frantic efforts to paint the APC black and hiding under such diversionary ways to cover their failures in meeting the expectations of the electorate.
“No doubt, many members of this so-called ruling party in the State, both high and low, have been defecting to the APC, the latest of which is one of their ardent members and campaign sponsors, Alhaji Bashir Adamu Imad, who just formally joined the winning party, APC, recently,” he said.
However, the Publicity Secretary of the PDP in Zamfara State, Haliru Andi, denied the allegation, describing it as unfounded.
