APC, PDP trade words over alleged minister’s house attack

The Zamfara state chapter of the All Progressives Congress and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party have engaged in a squabble over the alleged attempt by some hoodlums to burn the residence of Minister of Defence (state), Bello Mattawalle during the ongoing #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest.

Addressing a press conference on Friday, the APC Publicity Secretary Alhaji Yusuf Idris accused the state’s PDP chapter of trying to use its supporters to attack the Minister of Defence and other stakeholders of the APC in the ongoing nationwide protest.

Idris explained that the PDP officials had wanted to hijack the ongoing peaceful protest to destroy the property of prominent APC leaders in the state if not for the quick intervention of the security personnel.

Idris said, “The Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress is disturbed by the dimension the nationwide supposed peaceful protest took in the state.

“This is because we observed that many PDP thugs were strategically deployed to attack, maim, and destroy personalities and properties of the APC.

“Most disturbing was how on the first day of the protest (Thursday), the already known PDP thugs aimed at the former governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle’s personal residence for destruction of not for the quick intervention of security personnel who blocked them.

“This indicated that if allowed, the thugs who were most likely implementing the directives of their leaders would have razed down the minister’s house and property.”

Idris stated that the PDP thugs also attacked the residence of the APC Senator representing Zamfara North senatorial zone, Alhaji Sahabi Ya,u, and destroyed many items including a vehicle.

He said, “The PDP also attacked the residence of Senator Sahabi Yau in his hometown of Kaura Namoda, where they destroyed many valuables and damaged his Toyota Hilux in the name of peaceful protest.

“We have earlier forecast the possible hijacking of the protest by the hoodlums and other miscreants in the state,” concluded Idris.

In a sharp reaction, the state’s acting PDP chairman, Muktar Lugga described the allegation by the APC as baseless.

Luggage stressed that “As a peace-loving and responsible government, the administration of Governor Dauda Lawal would never plan to attack anybody or cause confusion in the state.”

He said, “The allegation is basely and unfounded.”

“Let me remind the APC that, this is not the time for politicking.”

“Instead of shifting unnecessary blame, let us collectively come together to support President Baloa Tinubu to address the issues at the right time”.

He maintained that the APC was crying foul where there was none because they failed woefully in Zamfara state.

He advised them to wait until 2027, lamenting that, “It is not time for politicking at the moment.”

He also advised the PDP members to stop telling the world that, the house of the Defence Minister was about to be attacked if not for the quick intervention of the security personnel.

“This is shameful as you are exposing the Minister’s unpopularity in his home state,” he said.