BY Samuel Akpan
The Zamfara All Progressives Congress (APC) Concerned Youth Movement says no amount of “falsehood” will distract Bello Matawalle, minister of state for defence, from discharging his duties.
On May 3, a group identified as the APC Loyalists Forum, protested at the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja, asking the anti-graft agency to reopen an alleged N70 billion funds diversion case against Matawalle.
But the youth movement said it was not part of a group demanding Matawalle’s probe.
The group said the crowd was rented to tarnish the minister’s image and integrity.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Abubakar Gusau, chairman of the Zamfara APC Youth Movement, claimed that one of the “hired protesters” said “they were recruited at Suleja, Niger State”.
Gusau said some of the protesters could not read what was inscribed on the placards and were “unaware it was a protest against Dr Bello Matawalle, in a matter they knew nothing about, and regretted their participation”.
“Matawalle is the people’s leader, a politician’s politician and an embodiment of patriotism,” the statement reads.
“No amount of blackmail or falsehood will distract him from his onerous task of restoring security, peace, and unity in the country as the Minister of Defence for the State.
“He remains our indisputable leader in the quest for security and development of Zamfara State.
“It is all about 2027 elections and the fear of Matawalle, a grassroots politician and mobilizer, and the plot to put him out of circulation that will jeopardise APC’s chance of reclaiming Zamfara State and reelection of President Bola Tinubu.
“While Tinubu and Matawalle are working assiduously for a better and greater Nigeria, their political opponents dissipate energy on far-off 2027 polls.
“It is obvious that once elections are over, it is time for nation-building and delivery of democracy dividends to the people in tandem with the provision of Section 14 (2)b of the 1999 Constitution which states that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.”
The group said “all lovers of democracy and good governance acknowledge Matawalle as a resourceful, vibrant, visionary, and purposeful democrat with a milk of human kindness, which he generously dispenses to the masses to uplift their standards of living”.
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