The All Progressives Congress (APC) NorthWest Zone has called upon members of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Zamfara State, who accused the Minister of Defence, Muhammad Bello Mattawalle, of giving palliatives to bandits, to come forward with their evidence or risk facing prosecution.
Addressing a press conference in Kaduna on Sunday, the Zonal Publicity Secretary of the party, Musa Mailafiya Mada, stated that the party welcomes positive criticism from the opposition, but such criticisms should not violate the provisions of freedom of speech.
Mada accused the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) opposition government in Zamfara of persistently slandering the immediate past governor of the state, Matawalle, who is now the Minister of State for Defence.
While emphasising that the grave allegation against Matawalle cannot be overlooked, Mada said sponsors of the fake news against the minister must either provide proof of the alleged foodstuff distribution or issue an apology to the Honourable Minister in at least two national dailies within two weeks from now.
He added that “if no action is taken from the side of the sponsors of this fake news upon the expiration of the ultimatum, on 14th April 2024, legal action will be instituted against them.”
According to Mada, “It has come to our notice that some unscrupulous elements in this geopolitical zone, particularly Zamfara State, have made it their daily habit to use instruments of mainstream and new media to tarnish the image of our party leaders.
“Similarly, it is a well-known fact that the PDP opposition government in Zamfara has made a name for itself in slandering the immediate past governor of the state, Bello Muhammad Matawalle, the Honourable Minister of State for Defence.
“As a party, we concede that slandering any of our members with ulterior motives is as good as attacking the structural foundation of our great party, which is intolerable, let alone defaming the character and questioning the integrity of our leaders who have earned their reputation through selfless service for the greater good of the entire nation.
“While we welcome positive criticism from the opposition that does not violate the provisions of freedom of speech, we will not condone any form of vituperation that oversteps the boundaries of the laws of the land.
“On Thursday, 28th March 2024, an online blog going by the name ‘The Mail Online News’ published a story which we believe to have been sponsored by some deceitful elements with a caption that reads: ‘Exclusive: Defence Minister, Bello Matawalle Distributes Foodstuff To Bandits Terrorizing Zamfara.’
“Similarly, a Senior Special Assistant to the Zamfara State Governor was heard on record providing details about the alleged foodstuff distribution that even the so-called blog, The Mail Online News, could not capture. The said SSA featured in ‘IYA RUWA,’ a segment of the ‘TASKAR VISION’ Program of Vision FM, which airs on Vision FM Gusau at 10:00 pm on Friday, 29th March 2024, where he alleged that Bello Matawalle sends the foodstuff to bandits through Honorable Musa Bawa Musa, a former Deputy Speaker of the Zamfara State Assembly.
“Without mincing words, we as a party strongly suspect this slanderous propaganda to have been sponsored by individuals very much related to the PDP Government in Zamfara State. In fact, we have particular suspects, as we mentioned one among the rest, and we are confident that we will gather all the necessary evidence that we will use against them in a court of law, as investigations into the matter are already ongoing.
“This grave allegation can never be overlooked; therefore, sponsors must either provide proof of the alleged foodstuff distribution or issue an apology to the Honorable Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Muhammad Matawalle, in at least two national dailies within two weeks from now.
“If no action is taken from the side of the sponsors of this fake news upon the expiration of this ultimatum, on 14th April 2024, legal action will be instituted against them.
“Since the inception of the current PDP opposition government in Zamfara, Bello Matawalle has endured all forms of libellous allegations and media trials. This is due to the role he played in supporting the President Asiwaju-led federal government, which consequently specified himself,” Mada said.
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