The North West zone of the All Progressives Congress has asked the People’s Democratic Party in Zamfara State, accusing the Minister of State for Defense, Bello Matawalle, of giving palliatives to bandits, to come forward with their evidence or risk facing legal action.
Addressing a press conference in Kaduna on Sunday, the APC North West Zonal Publicity Secretary, Musa Mada, said the party welcomes positive criticism from the opposition.
Still, such criticisms should not violate the provisions of freedom of speech, he said.
Mada accused the PDP-led government in Zamfara of persistent slandering of Matawalle, who is the immediate past governor of the state.
While stating that the gravy allegation against Mattawalle can never be overlooked, Mada said sponsors of the fake news against the minister must either provide proof of the alleged foodstuff distribution or tender an apology to the minister.
“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 get hold of all the necessary evidence that we will use against them in the court of law as an investigation into the matter is already ongoing,” the APC said.
“If no action is taken from the side of the sponsors of this fake news on expiration of the ultimatum, on 14th April 2024, legal action will be instituted against them.
“It has come to our notice that some unscrupulous elements in this geopolitical zone, particularly Zamfara State made it their daily habit of using instruments of mainstream and the new media to tarnish the image of our party leaders.
“Similarly, it is well known fact that the PDP opposition government in Zamfara made a name for itself in slandering the immediate past Governor of the state, Bello Muhammad Matawalle the Honorable Minister of State, 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 earned their reputation through selfless service to the greater good of the entire nation.
“While we welcome positive criticism from the oppositions that does violate the provisions of freedom of speech, we will not condone any form of vituperation that overstepped boundaries of provisions of the laws of the land.
“This gravy allegation can never be overlooked, therefore, sponsors must either provide proof of the alleged Foodstuff distribution or tender apology to the Honorable Minister of State Defence Dr Bello Muhammad Matawalle in the pages of 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 on the expiration of this ultimatum, on 14th April 2024, legal action will be instituted against them,” the APC added.
