President Bola Tinubu’s request for Bello Matawalle, the Minister of State for Defense, to move to Kebbi State in the wake of the kidnapping of 25 students from Government Girls’ Secondary School, Maga, has drawn criticism from the PDP’s Zamfara State chapter.
According to reports, President Tinubu ordered Matawalle to move to Kebbi in a statement issued through Bayo Onanuga, his Special Advisor on Information and Strategy.
In order to oversee security measures to ensure the release of the kidnapped students, Matawalled was requested to stay in Kebbi State.
However, PDP Publicity Secretary Alhaji Haliru Andi said in a statement on Saturday that the party, led by Jamil Jibo, saw the decision as another evidence of what it called the APC-led government’s inability to put an end to Nigeria’s insecurity.
Andi claimed that Matawalle’s instruction to hurry to Kebbi was “nothing but an empty drama designed to mislead Nigerians.”
Matawalle’s competence was questioned by the PDP spokesperson, who claimed that the minister had demonstrated no ability to handle security issues even within his own state.
“Attacks continue in his own hometown even today, proving he lacks the competence and credibility to handle national security issues,” he stated.
“The APC government has completely failed Nigeria,” Andi continued. The ruling party’s lack of plan, capability, and sincerity is demonstrated by the recent vicious attack on a church in Kwara, the kidnapping of students in Kebbi, the murder of General Uba in Borno, and numerous deaths and kidnappings around the nation.
He urged the APC to quit meddling in Nigerians’ lives and cautioned that the country needs serious leadership, not political showmanship.
Yusuf Idris, the APC Publicity Secretary for Zamfara State, responded by calling the PDP’s comments “sheer madness” and an attempt to jeopardize national security.
Idris claimed that the Zamfara PDP had decided to “sabotage the Federal Government through an unpatriotic statement which could be termed as felony” rather than show compassion for the Kebbi kidnapping victims.
“The PDP chapter is attempting to undermine security plans to rescue the kidnapped 24 students of Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga,” he declared.
Idris praised President Tinubu for postponing his planned travel to South Africa, where he was supposed to attend the G20 Summit, after discovering the kidnappings at the Kebbi school.
“This is the first time in the country where the president cancelled his foreign trip because of the kidnapping of students,” he said.
Previous presidents, he continued, never halted engagements during comparable mass kidnappings.
“Kidnapping students began with the Chibok girls during President Jonathan, followed by Dapchi,” he stated. Students from Federal College Birnin Yauri, Jangebe, and Kankara were kidnapped during President Buhari’s administration, yet none of the previous presidents called off his engagement. The only person who values each citizen’s life is President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
APC Protects Matawalle’s Performance
Idris accused the present PDP-led state government of deserting the people and stated that Matawalle made “several efforts” to dismantle bandits’ networks while he was governor.
“The PDP has nothing to defend regarding the continuation of banditry in Zamfara State when they control the state government,” he declared. The people have been deserted by the governor.
He maintained that Governor Dauda Lawal “would be far away” and would not even send condolence notes, but Matawalle used to visit victims and give relief supplies.
Idris asserted that the Zamfara PDP had made numerous unsuccessful attempts to persuade President Tinubu to fire Matawalle.
“One wonders what the PDP actually wants when they say they are not happy to see the President directing Matawalle to ensure the rescue of the 24 schoolgirls,” he stated.
