Joshua Omoloye, Abuja
The impeachment process initiated on the floor of the Zamfara State House of Assembly on Friday against Deputy Governor, Mahdi Aliyu Mohammed Gusau may spark off crisis in the state, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has cautioned.
The party, therefore, warned the state governor, Bello Matawalle to nip in the bud, the state government orchestrated desperation to relieve Gusau of his democratically elected position.
The PDP in the strongest terms told Governor Matawalle that he might be stoking and inducing violence in the State by manipulating the State House of Assembly to commence “an illegal and undemocratic” process of impeachment against the democratically elected deputy governor.
The party, therefore, petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Baba Alkali to wade in to prevent the breakdown of law and order in Zamfara State.
Hon. Debo Ologungba, National Publicity Secretary of the party in a statement Saturday also alleged that some PDP chieftains including State Deputy Chairman, Prof. Kabiru Jabaka are being persecuted by the Matawalle administration unjustly.
According to the party, “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 North West region as well as the continued sustenance of democracy in our country.
“It is clear that this panic move by Governor Matawalle is induced by his realization that the mandate of the PDP which he stole away into the APC is at the verge of being recovered through the legal processes of the court and restored to the Deputy Governor; he (Matawalle), having 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.
“Governor Matawalle should note that the people of Zamfara State are solidly with the Deputy Governor, who enjoys large political following in the State as the custodian of the PDP mandate after Matawalle’s infamous defection to the APC. As such, any action against the Deputy Governor amounts to a direct assault on the Will of the people which they will firmly resist.
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“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 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.
“The PDP calls on 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 North West region, where he is now threatening the lives of members of the PDP and other well-meaning citizens of Zamfara State.
“Our Party alerts Nigerians of how Governor Matawalle has been hounding members of the Zamfara State Working Committee of the PDP particularly, our State Deputy Chairman, Prof. Kabiru Jabaka, who has been forced to relocate out of the State over threats to his life.
“Moreover, the PDP notes with consternation, Governor Matawalle’s well-known connections and negotiations with bandits and terrorists and calls on Nigerians to hold him responsible should any harm befall our party members in the State.
“The PDP calls on President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC to immediately call Governor Matawalle to order and ensure that this action which is a great assault on democracy especially the principle of Separation of Powers and peaceful co-existence in Zamfara State is halted forthwith”.
The PD demanded that Governor Matawalle 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.
