PDP cautions Matawalle over impeachment misadventure

*Says move against Deputy Governor recipe for crisis

*PDP showing they are jobless -Gusau sources

By IBRAHIM KANOMA, Gusau

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has given what it calls strong warning to Governor of Zamfara State, Hon. Mohammed Bello Matawalle, over the move he is allegedly making for the impeachment of his deputy by the state House of Assembly.

The opposition party asked the governor to stop stoking and inducing violence by orchestrating and manipulating the State House of Assembly to commence “an illegal and undemocratic process of impeachment against the democratically elected Deputy Governor of Zamfara State, His Excellency Mahdi Aliyu Mohammed Gusau.”

In a statement issued by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, the party stressed that “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.”

According to the PDP Spokesman, “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.

“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.

“In any case, Governor Matawalle must be held responsible for any breakdown of law and order which can result to bloodshed in Zamfara State for which he can also be personally held liable even beyond the shores of Nigeria as the world is watching,” the PDP said.

Sources close to Government House and All Progressives Congress (APC) in Gusau, the Zamfara State capital, have however dismissed the PDP’s allegation as mere display of fury where is no cause for anger.

One of them said, “Can you image that PDP since after their defeat in 2015 have never relented? It is more surprising that as huge as the task on the hands of every party to be busy preparing for the next political ability with a view to electing a new Nigerian President, the party’s National secretariat has unjustified time and energy to expend on a State chapter that has fallen for APC and has fallen for good.”

On impeachment allegation he said, “There is no need talking about that because the governor has no need to join issues with a pack of people deceiving people (PDP), who are so unaware  that legislature and executive are separate arms of government and so governor can’t lord anything over them, you have got to pity them because, this singular statement has exposed the PDP as a party without job. If they have job, a whole of national secretariat of the part would not have gotten the time to do for a state chapter, what they should do,” he sa